Dayo Ade Olusola| M10news| Asia News| 29 August 2025
Thailand has been plunged into fresh political turmoil after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was dismissed by the Constitutional Court over a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician.
The 39-year-old, who became the country’s youngest leader when she took office last year, was found to have violated ethical standards during the June conversation, in which she appeared deferential to Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen as tensions flared along the shared border.
The court also highlighted her criticism of a senior Thai army commander – a rare and highly sensitive move in a country where the military wields deep political influence.
Weeks later, fighting broke out along the border, lasting five days and leaving at least 35 people dead while forcing more than 260,000 to flee their homes.
Ms Shinawatra, suspended from duty in July, apologised for her remarks but insisted she had intended to prevent war.
Her removal makes her the sixth Shinawatra-linked prime minister to be forced from office by Thailand’s military or judiciary since 2006, underscoring the long-running power struggle between the political establishment and the influential family.
The ruling adds to uncertainty at a time when the country faces stalled reforms and mounting economic challenges.
Speaking after the verdict, Ms Shinawatra urged unity, saying: “All sides must now work together to build stability and ensure there won’t be another turning point again.”
Attention now shifts to her successor. Her father, billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to play a central role in efforts to maintain the ruling Pheu Thai party’s grip on power.r
The opposition People’s Party has urged that Ms Shinawatra’s successor move quickly to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections, arguing that only a new mandate from voters can restore political legitimacy.
Party leaders argue that only a new vote can restore legitimacy and stability after the court’s ruling deepened Thailand’s political crisis.
Until then, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and the current cabinet will continue to serve in a caretaker capacity, ensuring day-to-day governance.
Parliament has not set a deadline for the selection of a new prime minister, leaving the timeline for political transition uncertain and fuelling speculation over behind-the-scenes bargaining among rival factions.
