INTERNATIONAL – Thailand’s political landscape plunged into deeper turmoil on July 1, 2025, after the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The court’s action follows a complaint by 36 senators alleging she violated ethical standards by making derogatory remarks about a Thai military commander while speaking too deferentially to Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, during a leaked June call—casting doubt on her loyalty to national sovereignty.
In a preliminary 7–2 judicial vote, the court opted to suspend her pending formal proceedings and allowed her 15 days to respond to dismissal charges. During this time, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has assumed the role of acting prime minister, while Paetongtarn transitions to Culture Minister and retains cabinet attendance rights starting July 3.
Paetongtarn, 38 and the youngest PM in Thai history, has apologised for the controversial conversation.
“My true intention…was to work for the country to maintain our sovereignty and save the lives of all our soldiers,” she stated.
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The leak has inflamed public anger, triggering protests and contributing to the collapse of her fragile coalition as the Bhumjaithai party withdrew support. Political analysts warn the incident highlights the ongoing power struggle between the populist Shinawatra dynasty and Thailand’s conservative, military-backed elite a saga that has toppled multiple governments through coups and court rulings over the past two decades.
Approval ratings for Paetongtarn plunged to an historic low of 9.2% in June, down from 30.9% in March. Thousands have taken to the streets, demanding her resignation, while the National Anti-Corruption Commission has launched a parallel inquiry that could lead to Supreme Court action and possibly ban her from politics.
Her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, remains under judicial scrutiny for allegedly insulting the monarchy and evading prison via hospital detention—further complicating the family’s political fortunes.
The combination of legal, political, and popular pressure has once again destabilised Thailand’s governance. Analysts caution that without democratic reforms, political discord may intensify and prompt further confrontations between government and military-aligned institutions. With Parliament set to reconvene, the country teeters between managed transition and deeper crisis.
Source: CNBC Indonesia
