BANGKOK — On Tuesday, Thailand’s Constitutional Court made the significant decision to suspend Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra amidst an ongoing ethics investigation. This inquiry sprouts from criticisms that she displayed undue reverence towards a senior Cambodian leader during a phone conversation about a recent border conflict. This call, which was leaked, has intensified scrutiny over her leadership.
Tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border flared into an armed confrontation on May 28, culminating in the death of a Cambodian soldier. When Paetongtarn spoke with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to ease the strain, her actions backfired, inciting protests and accusations of obsequiousness.
Paetongtarn’s suspension threatens to usher in a new wave of instability in Thailand, a nation that has repeatedly teetered on the edge of political chaos. Central to these upheavals are fears within the traditional elite, including the military, regarding the expanding influence of the political lineage initiated by Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin, a polarizing figure, was ousted by a coup in 2006 and subsequently exiled. His daughter is now the third family member to serve as Prime Minister, mirroring their pattern of facing removal before completing their tenure, echoing the fate of her brother and herself.
The recurring turmoil calls for substantial democratic reforms that curb the dominance of unelected entities, expressed Purawich Watanasukh, a political science expert from Thammasat University in Bangkok. He indicated that without foundational changes, Thailand remains predisposed to disruptions hindering its democratic evolution.
The timing of Paetongtarn’s suspension coincides with an economic downturn and increasing dissatisfaction with her and her Pheu Thai party’s performance. Critics have labeled her government as underperforming. The Constitutional Court’s judges reached a unanimous decision to examine the ethics violation petition against her and decided, with a 7-2 vote, to suspend her from her prime ministerial duties pending a final ruling. They have allotted her 15 days to present supporting evidence.
Paetongtarn, in response to the court’s intervention, vowed to participate fully in the process and defended her actions. Her priority, she stated, was to prevent further conflict and loss of life among soldiers. She apologized to those who were displeased by the leaked conversation and departed the Government House soon after the court’s decision.
In her absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit is set to assume the role of acting Prime Minister, as confirmed by Chousak Sirinil, the minister of the prime minister’s office. Earlier, King Maha Vajiralongkorn had sanctioned a Cabinet reshuffle following the exit of a major party from the government coalition over the same leaked discussion. Although she was appointed as the culture minister in the reshuffle, Paetongtarn’s capability to assume the position remains uncertain due to her suspension.
The leaked conversation unveiled Paetongtarn advising Hun Sen, a long-time associate of her father, to disregard a Thai regional army commander’s public censure of Cambodia regarding the border issue, dubbing him an “opponent.” This provoked thousands of conservative and nationalist-leaning protesters to march through Bangkok demanding her resignation.
Beyond the Constitutional Court’s investigation, Paetongtarn is also under scrutiny by another agency over the leaked call, which could further jeopardize her position. Previously, her predecessor faced removal over an ethics breach by the same court. Thailand’s judiciary, notably the Constitutional Court, is regarded as a protector of the royalist establishment, known to leverage judicial power against political competitors.
Paetongtarn, 38, is Thaksin Shinawatra’s youngest daughter. Her father enjoys strong support from Thailand’s poor and working classes, who view him as a champion of their interests. However, the political strength of the Shinawatra family appears to be waning. Thaksin had alienated some followers by brokering an agreement with former conservative adversaries, which facilitated his return from exile in 2023 and led to the formation of the governing coalition, sidelining the progressive Move Forward Party, which had topped the national elections but posed a greater threat to the conservative establishment.
Amidst ongoing legal battles since his return, Thaksin faced a court hearing on Tuesday concerning allegations of defaming the monarchy in 2015. Additionally, questions loom over how he managed his return to serve an eight-year prison sentence for corruption and abuse of power. After being transferred to a hospital soon upon arrival and subsequently granted clemency due to his age and health without jail time, complaints have emerged arguing he evaded serving his sentence properly, raising the possibility of his imprisonment.