Thailand’s Constitutional Court has officially removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her position as Prime Minister, citing violations of ethics and integrity after a leaked phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
The court ruled that Paetongtarn’s actions “did not preserve the nation’s pride and considered personal interest over the country’s,” representing a serious breach of ethical standards. The 39-year-old leader had been suspended on 1 July following controversial remarks about Thailand’s military during a border dispute with Cambodia.
In the recording, Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticised Thai military officers, including the general overseeing forces in the disputed border region. She later apologised, saying her comments were part of a negotiation strategy rather than a personal attack.
Paetongtarn joins a string of Thai Prime Ministers removed by the Constitutional Court, including her predecessor Srettha Thavisin. She also becomes the third Shinawatra family member, after her father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck, to leave office before completing a full term.
Elected on 16 August 2024, Paetongtarn served just over a year as Prime Minister. Thaksin recently commented that if she is removed, she will “just go back and perform her duty as a mother,” reflecting the personal toll of political upheaval.
The ruling raises questions about whether Thailand will face an early election, adding to the nation’s ongoing political uncertainty. The decision reinforces the court’s strict stance on political ethics and highlights the challenges the Shinawatra family continues to face in Thai politics.