Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed suspended Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office.
The court ruled that her controversial phone call with Cambodia’s former leader breached ethics rules, in a move that plunges the kingdom into fresh political turmoil.
Paetongtarn, a member of the powerful Shinawatra political family dynasty, became the country’s youngest Prime Minister in August 2024 and has served only a year in office.
In a ruling of 6 to 3, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that Paetongtarn “lacks the qualifications and possesses prohibited characteristics” under the Thai constitution, leading to the end of her time in office.
The court added that Paetongtarn “lacked demonstrable honesty and integrity, and seriously violated or failed to comply with ethical standards” in the phone call.
In the leaked call, which took place on June 15, 2025, as border tensions with Cambodia escalated, Paetongtarn could be heard calling former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen “uncle” and appeared to criticize her own army’s actions in the border clashes that had led to the death of a Cambodian soldier.
Paetongtarn also added that if Hun Sen “wants anything, just tell me, and I will take care of it” — contentious remarks that became the center of the case against her.
Her comments in the leaked audio, which was confirmed as authentic by both sides, struck a nerve in Thailand. Nationalist fervor was already running high over the border dispute, and opponents accused her of compromising the country’s national interests.
Paetongtarn apologized to the Thai people “who may feel uneasy or upset about this matter” and said her remarks were a negotiating technique used to diffuse tensions.
On July 1, 2025, the court suspended Paetongtarn from prime ministerial duties, though she remained in the Cabinet as Culture Minister following a reshuffle.
In a news conference held after the court’s ruling was announced, Paetongtarn thanked her country.
“This is another time that the court’s decision has created a sudden political change. As a Thai, I love my nation, religion and the king. Thank you everyone who gave me knowledge and experience.”
Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Paetongtarn is the latest in her family to be dismissed as Premier – political parties allied to Paetongtarn’s father, the influential and divisive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have repeatedly won elections but struggled to hold on to power.
Paetongtarn’s 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 for more than 15 years to escape corruption charges after the military toppled his government.
Her uncle Somchai Wongsawat was briefly Prime Minister in 2008 but was removed in a court ruling. Paetongtarn herself came to power after her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was removed from office in a shock court ruling last year by the same Constitutional Court.
Paetongtarn’s Ouster Marks Another Wave Of Turbulence In Thai Politics
The Constitutional Court’s ruling represents another wave on the turbulent rapids of Thai politics, in which those pushing for change have frequently run foul of the establishment – a small but powerful clique of military, royalist and business elites.
Over the past two decades, dozens of lawmakers have faced bans, parties have been dissolved and Prime Ministers have been overthrown in coups or by court decisions – with the judiciary playing a central role in the ongoing battle for power.
In the past three years alone, the kingdom has seen two Prime Ministers removed from office and an election-winning party dissolved.
Before that, former Army Commander Prayut Chan-o-cha ruled as Prime Minister for nine years after seizing power in a coup in 2014.
Now that Paetongtarn has been removed from office, her cabinet will also be dismissed. Those employed as Ministers will be placed in acting roles until a new Prime Minister is voted in, when the cabinet will be reappointed.
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