Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been suspended by the Constitutional Court amidst calls for her resignation following a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. In the conversation, she referred to him as “uncle” and criticized a Thai military commander, leading to public outrage and a petition for her removal. This development could see Paetongtarn become the third politician from the influential Shinawatra family, which has held significant sway in Thai politics for the past twenty years, to lose power prematurely. With her ruling coalition already on shaky ground due to a recent departure of a key ally, her suspension further destabilizes the political landscape. The court’s decision to suspend her while evaluating the case for her dismissal was passed by a 7-2 vote. She now has 15 days to present her defense, during which time the deputy PM will act as the country’s leader. Despite her suspension, Paetongtarn will continue to serve as the culture minister, a position she was appointed to just before her suspension.
