Thai court dismisses prime minister over compromising phone call with
Cambodian leader
[August 30, 2025]
By PAPITCHAYA SCHWARZ and GRANT PECK
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ruling that she violated ethics rules
in a phone call with a high-ranking Cambodian official.
The decision ends the term of the nation’s youngest prime minister and
delivers the latest blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty
that has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades.
In a 6-3 vote, the judges found that Paetongtarn’s conduct in a June 15
call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen compromised national
interests.
The call, which became public just weeks before a deadly border conflict
erupted between the two countries, sparked outrage in Thailand. Audio of
the conversation revealed Paetongtarn addressing Hun Sen as “uncle” and
appearing to criticize a Thai army general as an “opponent” while
discussing the tense border situation.
Complaint alleged alignment with Cambodia
The complaint against Paetongtarn lodged by a group of senators alleged
that “due to a personal relationship that appeared aligned with
Cambodia, (she) was consistently willing to comply with or act in
accordance with the wishes of the Cambodian side.”
It further charged that her reference to the Thai general “lacked
demonstrable honesty and integrity, and seriously violated or failed to
comply with ethical standards."
However, the court said in its ruling that Paetongtarn intended to
uphold Thailand’s national interests and tried to prevent serious
conflicts that could affect its sovereignty and border security. It
concluded that her actions did not clearly appear to be dishonest. The
majority opinion nevertheless found that her conversation constituted a
breach of ethical standards.
Paetongtarn, 39, has defended herself by arguing that her familiar tone
during the call was a negotiating tactic aimed at de-escalating
tensions. She apologized, but insisted that it did not damage national
security.
After the court's ruling Friday, she said she would accept it but
insisted that she was innocent and had acted with the sole purpose of
saving lives.
A leaked phone call
Audio of the call was leaked online by Hun Sen, who was Cambodia’s prime
minister for 38 years until his son Hun Manet took over the job in 2023.
The phone call came as long-standing border tensions escalated after a
Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief fracas with Thai troops in
disputed territory in May.
In late June, the two countries engaged in five days of combat that
killed dozens of people and displaced more than 260,000.
The friendly tone of Paetongtarn’s call raised hackles among many Thais
because of her family's history.
Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a business owner who earned a vast
fortune in the telecommunications sector and who was prime minister from
2001-2006, has in the past faced allegations of putting his personal
interests over those of the nation, and had a seemingly warm friendship
with Hun Sen.
Friday's ruling is also a blow to Thaksin, who was ousted from power by
a military coup but has managed to remain a dominant force in Thai
politics
[to top of second column]
|
Thailand's suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right,
gestures at acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai during a
press conference after her dismissal, in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday,
Aug. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A family affair
Paetongtarn, a former executive in a hotel business run by her
family, was the third close member of the Shinawatra clan to take
the prime minister’s job. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was
Thailand’s first female prime minister from 2011 to 2014, and like
her brother was forced out of office before her term was up.
Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, also served briefly as
prime minister in 2008.
Other Thaksin political allies have also held office and been forced
out early. Paetongtarn’s immediate predecessor as prime minister,
real estate executive Srettha Thavisin, was forced out last August
when the Constitutional Court found him guilty of a serious ethics
breach.
The fortunes of Thaksin’s political machine have met with victories
and setbacks, with mandates at the ballot box often undone by coups
or court rulings. Polarization between his supporters and opponents
have also led to street violence, which have contributed to
destabilizing governments he backed.
Thaksin's critics accuse him of corruption and abuse of power, as
well as disrespect toward the country’s revered monarch. But he has
undoubted populist appeal to voters, feeding fears of a
parliamentary dictatorship. Concern runs highest among members of
the country’s conservative royalist ruling class, who fear that
their long-standing influence would be diminished. Leading defenders
of the status quo include the army and the courts.
The controversy over the call with Hun Sen came after Paetongtarn’s
government was already facing headwinds, due largely to its failure
to turn around an economy that had been lagging since the COVID-19
pandemic.
Thai politics is again in disarray
The court’s ruling puts the ruling coalition led by Paetongtarn’s
Pheu Thai party on shaky ground. Controversy over the phone call
already caused the Bhumjaithai Party, the biggest partner of Pheu
Thai, to drop out, leaving the coalition with a slim majority of
seats in the House of Representatives.
Paetongtarn was already suspended from her duties on July 1 when the
court agreed to hear the case against her, and Deputy Prime Minister
Phumtham Wechayachai took over her responsibilities.
The Cabinet led by Phumtham will stay in place on a caretaker basis
until Parliament approves a new prime minister, though a vote has
not yet been scheduled. The caretaker Cabinet could also dissolve
Parliament and call a new election.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
