Thai PM Suspended Over Cambodia Dispute: 7 Shocking Facts You Need to Know
Thai Prime Minister suspended amid escalating Cambodia dispute. Discover key facts, political implications, and regional fallout from this major Southeast Asian development
Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, saying it was deliberating a complaint that could result in her permanent removal from the job.
A group of senators has accused Ms. Paetongtarn of ethical violations in talks over a simmering border dispute with Cambodia’s de facto leader, Hun Sen. She appeared to take a deferential tone with Mr. Hun Sen in the conversation, which was private but was released online by him to gain leverage.
The move created a spiraling crisis for Ms. Paetongtarn. For more than a week, she has faced heated calls to step down, with thousands of protesters gathering in Bangkok on Sunday to demand her resignation. Her governing coalition has suffered a major defection and her government could soon face a no-confidence vote.
The court suspended Ms. Paetongtarn in a 7-2 ruling.
It is the latest upheaval in Thailand, which has suffered from long stretches of political uncertainty in recent years. It also leaves Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy in a leadership vacuum at a time when its economy is facing a slowdown. And it has raised concerns that the military, which has long intervened in political crises, could stage another coup.
But that scenario is unlikely, analysts said. Instead, the royalist-military establishment is likely to use legal maneuvering to push her out. Last year, Ms. Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed by the Constitutional Court over ethics violations.
On June 15, Ms. Paetongtarn and Mr. Hun Sen held a call, with translators, to discuss border tensions that have flared occasionally over the decades. But relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated to the lowest point in years after a Cambodian soldier was killed last month in a brief skirmish.
In the recording, Ms. Paetongtarn took a deferential tone, calling him “uncle” and offering to “arrange” anything that he wants. She also appeared to disparage her own country’s powerful military.
Her comments drew condemnation from lawmakers, both those in her coalition and in the opposition, who all called on Ms. Paetongtarn to resign. The second-largest member of her governing coalition, the Bhumjaithai Party, quit her alliance earlier last month. Quickly, the legal challenges against Ms. Paetongtarn piled up.
The case taken up by the Constitutional Court was filed by a group of 36 senators who say that Ms. Paetongtarn’s conduct during the call breached the constitution, lacked integrity and violated ethical standards. They asked for Ms. Paetongtarn to be removed.
Since she took office last year, Ms. Paetongtarn, 38, has been viewed as a puppet of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister who remains a powerful behind-the-scenes player in the current government.
Mr. Thaksin, 75, is also facing legal challenges. On Tuesday, he went on trial for on a criminal charge of insulting the monarchy, a case that could send him to prison for up to 15 years.
On July 1, 2025, Thailand’s Constitutional Court unanimously voted 7–2 to suspend Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending an ethics probe over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen. This call, viewed by critics as damaging to Thailand’s military and sovereignty, has sparked a constitutional crisis
June 15: Paetongtarn made a private 17-minute call to Hun Sen, urging him not to heed Thai military commanders whom she described as “trying to look cool”
June 18: Hun Sen released a recorded 9-minute excerpt on social media, framing it as a means to prevent misunderstandings
This led to widespread outrage among Thai nationalists, who branded the Prime Minister a “traitor” for appearing deferential and undermining military authority
Ethical breach: The phone call reveals sensitive diplomatic communications that violate constitutional ethics and national sovereignty.
Political destabilization: The leak prompted the Bhumjaithai Party—the government’s key partner with 69 seats—to withdraw support, fracturing Paetongtarn’s slim majority
Court oversight: Thailand’s Constitutional Court retains the power to remove or suspend leaders, continuing a pattern of judicial intervention
Between June 19–28, tens of thousands protested in central Bangkok’s Victory Monument, calling for Paetongtarn’s resignation and accusing her of sabotaging Thailand’s military dignity
The Bhumjaithai Party formally withdrew from the coalition on June 18, citing the call as a national embarrassment
With 69 of its 69 MPs gone, the government’s parliamentary majority all but vanished
The court’s suspension grants 15 days for Paetongtarn to defend herself
Deputy PM Suriya Jungrungruangkit will act as interim prime minister during the investigation
Paetongtarn remains in cabinet as culture minister, pending clarification of her position
The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission has opened a probe into ethics violations—this could lead to permanent removal
The Constitutional Court may ultimately oust her if misconduct is proven.
The call comes amid a simmering border crisis: on May 28, soldiers skirmished near Preah Vihear Temple, and Cambodia responded by halting Thai fuel imports and enforcing border closures
Tensions escalated with troop mobilizations, drone sightings, and import bans .
Paetongtarn’s handling of this crisis—leveraging familial ties with Hun Sen—has raised broader concerns:
- Is she compromising Thai sovereignty for diplomacy?
- Does her approach favor family alliances over national interest?
Analysts warn this leaks shows how personal soft power can morph into geopolitical vulnerability in modern diplomacy
The court removed Srettha Thavisin (August 2024) for ethics violations
Paetongtarn’s suspension signals a deeper pattern of judicial power overriding political mandates in Thailand.
Thailand’s SET index fell for three days after the leak, signaling investor alarm
The political crisis complicates efforts to revive the economy and may trigger U.S. trade repercussions, including looming tariffs
The loss of coalition support may force early elections or spark a second palace-backed military intervention
Court decision: The Constitutional Court has 15 days to rule—either reinstating or permanently removing her.
Parliamentary answer: A no-confidence vote or snap elections could follow.
Military watch: With a weak government and aggressive military narrative, a return to Thailand’s coup cycle is not off the table
Foreign relations: Diplomatic ties with Cambodia remain strained pending formal border talks.
- The recurring trend of judicial intervention highlights a larger issue: democratic mandates repeatedly undone by unelected institutions.
- Nationalism vs. diplomacy: When security forces and populist sentiment clash with backchannel negotiations, the political balance is fragile.
- Dynastic politics: The Shinawatra legacy, including Paetongtarn, Yingluck, and Thaksin, remains entangled with authoritarian tendencies and court-led barriers.
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