Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an investigation into her conduct during a recent diplomatic dispute with Cambodia, a move that deepens the country’s ongoing political tensions.
The 38-year-old leader, daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, acknowledged the court’s decision on Tuesday. “The ruling has come out and I accept the court decision,” she told reporters. “It’s always been my intention to do the best thing for my country.”
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The suspension comes less than a year after Paetongtarn took office. The court is examining whether she violated constitutional ethics during a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen following a deadly cross-border clash in May that left one Cambodian soldier dead.
A leaked audio recording revealed her referring to Hun Sen as “uncle” and describing a Thai military commander as her “opponent,” sparking criticism from conservative lawmakers. They accused her of showing undue deference to a foreign leader while undermining her own country’s military — a potential breach of constitutional standards requiring integrity and ethical behavior from ministers.
On the same day, her father Thaksin Shinawatra appeared before a criminal court on royal defamation charges, highlighting the continued political pressure on the influential Shinawatra family.
The court ruled 7-2 in favor of suspending Paetongtarn until a final judgment is reached.
