The Thai Prime Minister was removed from his duties on the scandal of telephone calls disclosed with a strong Cambodian man

Bangkok, Thailand
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On Friday, a Thai court withdrew Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on Friday, judging that his controversial phone call with the former Cambodia chief has violated the rules of ethics, in a decision that plunges the kingdom into new political disorders.

Paetongtarn, a member of the powerful dynasty of the political family of Shinawatra, became the youngest Prime Minister of the country in August 2024 and served only one year.

In a decision of 6 to 3, the Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled that Paetongtarn “does not have the qualifications and has prohibited characteristics” under the Thai Constitution, leading to the end of its mandate.

During the disclosed appeal, which took place on June 15 while border tensions with Cambodia improved, Paetongtarn could be heard called the former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen “the uncle” and seemed to criticize the actions of his own army in the border clashes that had led to the death of a Cambodian soldier.

Paetongtarn also added that if Hun Sen “wants anything, tell me, and I will take care of it” – controversial remarks that have become the center of the case against her.

The court added that Peetongtarn “lacked demonstrable honesty and integrity, which has seriously raped or failed to comply with ethical standards” in the telephone call.

His comments in disclosed audio, which was confirmed as authentic by both parties, struck a nerve in Thailand. The nationalist fervor was already running on the border dispute and the opponents accused him of compromising the national interests of the country.

A few weeks later, the two countries engaged in a five -day conflict that killed at least 38 people, mainly civilians, and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Paetongtarn apologized to the Thai people “who can feel uncomfortable or upset about it” and said that his remarks were a negotiation technique used to disseminate tensions.

Friday, she thanked her country at a press conference held after the announcement of the court decision.

“This is another time that the court’s decision has created a sudden political change,” she said. “As Thai, I like my nation, my religion and the king. Thank you to everyone who gave me knowledge and experience. ”

On July 1, the court suspended Paetongtarn from the functions of the Prime Minister, although it stayed in the cabinet as Minister of Culture following a reshuffle.

Friday, the decision of the Constitutional Court represents another wave on turbulent rapids of Thai policy, in which those who push for change have frequently experienced a fault of the establishment – a small but powerful click of the military, royalist and commercial elites.

Last week, the father of Paetongtarn, the former influential Prime Minister and Thaksin Shinawatra division, survived a Majestic Less case against him who could have seen him imprisoned up to 15 years.

Over the past two decades, dozens of legislators have been confronted with prohibitions, the parties have been dissolved and the prime ministers have been overthrown in coups or by court decisions – the judiciary playing a central role in the current battle for power.

In the past three years only, the kingdom has seen two primary ministers withdrawn from its functions and a winning part of the dissolved elections. Before that, the former army commander Prayut Chan-O-Cha ruled as Prime Minister for nine years after taking power during a coup in 2014.

Paetongtarn is the last of his family to be rejected as Prime Minister – the political parties allied with Thaksin have won elections several times, but had trouble preserving power.

The aunt of Paetongtarn, Yingluck Shinawatra, was withdrawn from his duties before the soldiers took power in a 2014 coup, and his father entered self-imposed exile in 2006 for more than 15 years to escape the accusations of corruption after the soldiers overthrew his government.

His uncle Somchai Wongsawat was briefly Prime Minister in 2008 but was referred to a court decision.

Paetongtarn herself came to power after her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was removed from his functions during a decision of the Court of shock last year by the same Constitutional Court.

Srettha had led the Pheu Thai party to form a government with its conservative and pro-military rivals after the 2023 elections. The difficult coalition was forged to prevent the progressive party of the future, which won the most votes, to take office after promising deep reforms to Thai ruling institutions, including the monarchy.

With Pheu Thai in power again, Thaksin – who continued to play a disproportionate role in the policy behind the scenes despite his absence – was authorized to return to his country of origin.

The verdict against Paetongtarn could express trouble for the powerful political fortune of the Shinawatra family.

The clan has dominated Thai policy for more than 20 years, but the government is now on fragile ground. Internal conflicts in the management coalition and delayed deployment of flagship policies broke its ability to govern at a time when the economy vacillates. The disclosed telephone call fell popularity already falling from the party.

Pheu Thai must now appoint a new candidate for the Prime Minister, who will be voted by the 500 -seat Parliament. Their last remaining choice is the former Minister of Justice Chaikasem Nitiririri, although he is not clear if he would obtain the necessary votes from the Party Coalition partners.

The leader of the Bhumjaithai party, Anutin Charnvirakul, who would be another candidate for the Prime Minister, left the coalition and resigned from his post as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior to the disclosed telephone call from Paetongtarn.

If the party does not present a new Prime Minister, it raises the prospect of new elections, Pheu Thai in a much lower position.

Some analysts say that the establishment would always promote the party supported by Thaksin because it would serve as a firewall against the main party of the opposition, which is considered a major disruptor of the Thai establishment with its reformist program and its high approval notes.

This story has been updated with developments.