Thailand’s PM suspended over leaked phone call with Cambodia’s official

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on July 1from her duties pending the outcome of an ethics investigation sparked by a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen.

The 38-year-old prime minister, who has served just 10 months in office, now faces the possibility of dismissal after 36 senators petitioned the court, accusing her of breaching ethical standards. The court confirmed on July 1 that the leaked audio, which both countries have authenticated, will form the basis of the probe, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

While Paetongtarn has been removed from her prime ministerial responsibilities, she will remain in the Cabinet as culture minister following a recent reshuffle.

“I want to make it clear that my intentions were more than 100% sincere — I acted for the country, to protect our sovereignty, to safeguard the lives of our soldiers, and to preserve peace in our nation,” Paetongtarn said during a press conference after the ruling. “I also want to apologize to all my fellow Thais who may feel uneasy or upset about this matter,” she added.

The scandal centers on a June 15 call in which Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and appeared to criticise Thailand’s own military leadership following deadly clashes on the Cambodian border.

In the recording, she could be heard saying she was under pressure from domestic critics and asked Hun Sen not to heed the “opposite side,” a comment seemingly aimed at an outspoken Thai army commander in the northeast.

She further told Hun Sen, “If you want anything, you can just tell me, and I will take care of it.”

The audio prompted public outrage and calls for her resignation, culminating in anti-government protests in Bangkok over the weekend. Critics claim the remarks undermined national security and sovereignty, while opposition parties have threatened a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Paetongtarn later defended her remarks, stating they were part of a broader diplomatic strategy. “private” conversations, she argued, “shouldn’t have been made public.”

“I was trying to diffuse tensions between the two neighbors,” she said. “It was a negotiation tactic… not a statement of allegiance.”

The crisis has also led to the collapse of Paetongtarn’s governing coalition, after the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew its support last week. Her Pheu Thai party now faces an uphill battle to retain control amid falling approval ratings and increasing political pressure.

Paetongtarn came to power after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was also dismissed by the Constitutional Court for an ethics violation. The same court dissolved the Move Forward Party — the most popular political force in the 2023 elections — and banned its leadership from politics for a decade.

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have long been fraught with tension, particularly over their 817-kilometer border, which has seen intermittent clashes and remains a flashpoint for political conflict. 

By Sabina Mammadli