The Thai Constitutional Court announced on Tuesday, July 1st, that it is suspending Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her duties and has officially accepted a case accusing her of violating ethical standards. This move has escalated the political instability in Thailand and the pressure faced by the ruling coalition.
According to foreign media reports, Paetongtarn criticized a Thai army commander during a phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen last month, sparking controversy. Subsequently, 36 senators filed a petition with the court to suspend her as prime minister.
The court confirmed that it has accepted the case and passed a resolution with a vote of 7-2 to suspend Paetongtarn from her position as prime minister.
The charges against her include exhibiting “dishonesty” and “violating ethical standards” during the phone call incident, and she is suspected of violating constitutional provisions. The court has given her 15 days to submit evidence for her defense.
The controversial phone call took place on June 15, amidst escalating tensions on the Thai-Cambodian border. During the call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and criticized a Thai army commander, crossing a line with the military and sparking strong domestic backlash in Thailand. She later explained that her comments were a negotiating strategy and apologized for the remarks that caused dissatisfaction.
The incident also led to the second-largest party in the ruling coalition, the Thai Proud Party, announcing its withdrawal from the coalition, with its cabinet members collectively resigning.
Following the court’s ruling, Paetongtarn stated that she will respect the judicial process and defend herself to the best of her ability.
She emphasized that her conversation with Hun Sen was solely aimed at avoiding conflict. She said, “I was only thinking about how to avoid conflict, how to avoid armed confrontation, and prevent soldiers from getting hurt. I cannot accept it if any of my remarks to foreign leaders lead to adverse consequences.”
She also thanked her supporters for their encouragement and offered apologies to those who were unhappy with the content of the phone call.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is expected to assume the role of acting prime minister. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has approved a cabinet reshuffle, but it is currently unclear whether Paetongtarn will remain as the Minister of Culture after the reshuffling.
Furthermore, Paetongtarn is also facing another ethics probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The commission’s ruling could also result in her being removed from office.
Paetongtarn is not the only member of the Shinawatra family facing troubles. Her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is also scheduled to stand trial this month in two cases, one of which accuses him of insulting the monarchy during a media interview while in exile in 2015. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. Thaksin denies all charges and reaffirms his loyalty to the monarchy.
Thaksin, aged 75, returned to Thailand in 2023 to serve his sentence but was detained in a hospital for only six months, before being granted parole in February last year. The Supreme Court of Thailand will review the legality of this medical detention this month, and the outcome could determine whether he will be sent back to prison.
For a long time, the Thai Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission have been seen as crucial pillars of the pro-monarchy system. In recent years, these institutions have removed several prime ministers or high-ranking officials associated with the Shinawatra family, posing a significant challenge to the opposition.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters and the Associated Press.)