Thailand’s Prime Minister suspended over leaked call with former Cambodian leader (READ)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office on July 1 following a Constitutional Court decision to investigate her over an alleged ethics violation.

The court unanimously accepted a petition from 36 senators accusing her of breaching constitutional standards after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen surfaced.

In the June 15 call, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle,” appeared to criticize Thailand’s military, and said, “If you want anything, you can just tell me, and I will take care of it.”

The call sparked public outrage, protests in Bangkok, and a political crisis that saw the Bhumjaithai party withdraw from her governing coalition.

Though suspended as prime minister, Paetongtarn remains culture minister after a recent cabinet reshuffle.

She defended her actions, stating: “My intentions were more than 100% sincere — to safeguard our sovereignty, protect our soldiers’ lives, and preserve peace.”

She later described the call as a negotiation tactic, not a pledge of loyalty, and insisted it should have remained private.

Her critics argue she compromised national interests during a sensitive time of border tensions with Cambodia.

Paetongtarn had only been in office for 10 months, taking over after the previous prime minister was removed by the same court.

Thailand’s political landscape remains volatile following repeated leadership shake-ups and the controversial dissolution of the election-winning Move Forward Party.