Court suspends Thailand’s PM pending case over leaked phone call

A Thai tribunal has accepted a petition from senators that impeach the PM of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from bureau pending an morals probe implicit a leaked telephone telephone with a elder Cambodian official, heaping unit connected Thailand’s governing governmental dynasty.

The tribunal said successful a connection that it had accepted a petition from 36 senators, which accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards, successful usurpation of the constitution, implicit a leaked telephone conversation with Cambodia’s influential erstwhile leader, Hun Sen.

Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit volition presume a caretaker relation portion the tribunal decides the lawsuit against Paetongtarn, who has 15 days to respond.

Paetongtarn volition stay successful the furniture arsenic the caller civilization curate pursuing a furniture reshuffle.

The contention stems from a June 15 telephone telephone with Cambodia’s influential erstwhile person Hun Sen that was intended to defuse escalating borderline tensions betwixt the neighbours.

During the call, Paetongtarn, 38, referred to Hun Sen arsenic “uncle” and criticised a Thai service commander, a reddish enactment successful a state wherever the subject has important clout. She has apologised and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic.

The leaked telephone led to home outrage and has near Paetongtarn’s conjugation with a razor-thin majority, with a cardinal enactment abandoning the confederation and expected to soon question a no-confidence ballot successful parliament, arsenic protestation groups request the premier resign.

Legal perils

Paetongtarn’s battles aft lone 10 months successful powerfulness underline the declining spot of the Pheu Thai Party, the populist juggernaut of the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty, which has dominated Thai elections since 2001, enduring subject coups and tribunal rulings that person toppled aggregate governments and premier ministers.

Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, said that this lawsuit “raises questions astir the interaction of the Constitutional Court connected democracy”.

“Since the past election, 2 years ago, it has disqualified the enactment that won the predetermination and their leader, and it’s present taken retired 2 premier ministers from the ruling conjugation that stepped in”, helium said.

“Thailand is moving retired of options… if they determine to suspend Paetongtarn permanently and region her from her post, it’s precise unclear what benignant of governmental situation Thailand volition beryllium successful erstwhile again”, Cheng said.

It has been a baptism of occurrence for governmental novice Paetongtarn, who was thrust into powerfulness arsenic Thailand’s youngest premier and replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who the Constitutional Court dismissed for violating morals by appointing a curate who had erstwhile been jailed.

Paetongtarn’s authorities has besides been struggling to revive a stuttering economy, and her popularity has declined sharply, with a June 19-25 sentiment canvass released astatine the play showing her support standing sinking to 9.2 percent from 30.9 percent successful March.

Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin, the 75-year-old household patriarch and billionaire who was doubly elected person successful the aboriginal 2000s, is besides facing ineligible hurdles.

Antigovernment protesters rally to request the removal of Thailand’s premier minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, from bureau astatine Victory Monument successful Bangkok connected June 28, 2025 [Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP]

Divisive tycoon Thaksin, according to his lawyer, appeared astatine his archetypal proceeding astatine Bangkok’s Criminal Court connected Tuesday connected charges that helium insulted Thailand’s almighty monarchy, a superior offence punishable by up to 15 years successful situation if recovered guilty.

Thaksin denies the allegations and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.

The lawsuit stems from a 2015 media interrogation Thaksin gave portion successful self-imposed exile, from which helium returned successful 2023 aft 15 years overseas to service a situation condemnation for conflicts of involvement and maltreatment of power.

Thaksin dodged jailhouse and spent six months successful infirmary detention connected aesculapian grounds earlier being released connected parole successful February past year.

The Supreme Court volition this period scrutinise that infirmary enactment and could perchance nonstop him backmost to jail.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies