Thailand’s constitutional court removes PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Thailand’s political landscape has been shaken after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, citing ethical violations in a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen.

The ruling marks a fresh setback for the influential Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics for decades.

Paetongtarn, 39, was dismissed after a six-to-three vote by the court’s nine judges, who said the call raised doubts over her loyalty to Thailand.

In the June conversation, she referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticized the Thai army amid rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodia border.

The call, leaked by Hun Sen himself, sparked criticism that she was undermining the military.

The court found that Paetongtarn’s “personal relationship” with Hun Sen “appeared to align with Cambodia,” rejecting her defense that the discussion aimed to “bring back peace without using violence.”

The ruling added that her actions “caused the public to cast doubt” on whether her decisions “would benefit Cambodia more than the nation’s interest.”

Paetongtarn accepted the court’s decision but emphasized she was trying to save lives. The phone call occurred just weeks before a five-day border conflict erupted, leaving dozens dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Paetongtarn’s rise in politics has been swift. She joined the Pheu Thai party in 2021 and assumed office after predecessor Srettha Thavisin was removed by the Constitutional Court over allegations of appointing an ally previously jailed for bribing a judge.

Following her dismissal, her former coalition partner, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, announced it had secured enough support from other parties to form a new government under leader Anutin Charnvirakul.

The party’s priorities include resolving the border dispute with Cambodia and dissolving parliament within four months.

Paetongtarn becomes the third Shinawatra family member to have their premiership cut short.

Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by a military coup in 2006, and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra was removed by the Constitutional Court in 2014.

While Thaksin has stepped back from formal politics, his influence has remained significant, leaving questions about the future of the Shinawatra legacy.