Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Removed from Office by Constitutional Court for Ethics Breach, Plunging Kingdom into Political Turmoil

Thailand’s Constitutional Court ousted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Friday, citing a breach of ethical rules in a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s former leader. The ruling marks the latest political turbulence in the kingdom.

Paetongtarn, a prominent member of the influential Shinawatra political dynasty, assumed the prime ministership in August 2024 and served for one year before her dismissal. The court’s verdict of 6 to 3 determined that Paetongtarn lacked the necessary qualifications and possessed prohibited characteristics as per the Thai constitution, effectively ending her tenure.

The contested phone call, made on June 15 amid escalating border tensions with Cambodia, featured Paetongtarn addressing Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen as “uncle” and appeared to criticize the actions of her own military during border clashes that resulted in a Cambodian soldier’s death.

Paetongtarn also stated in the conversation that if Hun Sen desired anything, she would facilitate it, remarks that became central to the case against her. The court asserted that Paetongtarn demonstrated a lack of integrity and violated ethical standards during the call.

Authenticity of the leaked audio was confirmed by both parties, stirring nationalist sentiment in Thailand. Already tense over the border dispute, critics accused her of compromising the nation’s interests. The escalation led to a five-day conflict between the two countries that killed at least 38 people, mostly civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes.

Upon the court’s decision, Paetongtarn expressed apologies to the Thai people and attributed her remarks to negotiating tactics intended to deescalate tensions. In a news conference following the ruling, she thanked her nation and acknowledged the political turmoil the decision would bring.

Paetongtarn was suspended from prime ministerial duties on July 1 but remained in the Cabinet as culture minister after a reshuffle. The Constitutional Court’s ruling represents another episode in Thailand’s contentious politics, where efforts for change often collide with the establishment—a small yet powerful alliance of military, royalists, and business elites.

Last week, Paetongtarn’s father, the polarizing former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, escaped a potential 15-year prison sentence in a lese majeste case. Over the past two decades, numerous lawmakers have faced bans, parties have been disbanded, and prime ministers have been removed from office through coups or judicial decisions—with the judiciary playing a central role in the ongoing struggle for power.

In the last three years alone, Thailand has witnessed two prime ministers being ousted from office and an election-winning party dissolved. Prior to that, former army commander Prayut Chan-o-cha ruled as prime minister for nine years following a coup in 2014.

Paetongtarn is the latest member of her family to be dismissed as premier. Political parties allied with Thaksin have repeatedly won elections but struggled to maintain power. Her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from office before the military seized power in a 2014 coup, and her father went into self-imposed exile in 2006 to evade corruption charges following the military’s ouster of his government.

Her uncle Somchai Wongsawat served as prime minister briefly in 2008 but was removed through a court ruling. Paetongtarn assumed office after her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was dismissed in a shock court ruling last year by the same Constitutional Court.

Srettha had led the Pheu Thai Party in forming a government with its conservative and pro-military rivals following the 2023 election to prevent the progressive Move Forward Party from taking office, as it promised significant reforms to Thai ruling institutions, including the monarchy.

With Pheu Thai back in power, Thaksin—who continued to influence politics despite his absence—was permitted to return to his home country. The verdict against Paetongtarn could impact the Shinawatra family’s political future.

The clan has dominated Thai politics for over two decades; however, the government now faces internal strife and faltering economic conditions. The leaked phone call further eroded the party’s declining popularity. Pheu Thai must now nominate a new prime ministerial candidate, which will be subject to parliamentary vote. The party’s last viable option is former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri, though it remains uncertain whether he would receive the necessary support from coalition partners.

The Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul resigned as deputy prime minister and interior minister over Paetongtarn’s leaked phone call. If Pheu Thai fails to propose a new prime minister, it could lead to new elections, with the party in a weaker position than before. Some analysts suggest that despite the challenges, the establishment may still favor the Thaksin-backed party as a safeguard against the main opposition People’s Party and its reformist agenda.