Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces suspension after a scandal involving a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, raising questions about her leadership and political future.
**Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Suspended Amid Controversy**
**Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Suspended Amid Controversy**
Suspension comes as a court deliberates a petition for her removal over a leaked phone call.
With mounting pressure leading to serious political scrutiny, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended by the Constitutional Court as they weigh a petition for her removal. The decision follows the leak of a private phone conversation in which she referred to Hun Sen as "uncle" while also criticizing a high-ranking Thai military official. This incident has ignited public outrage and prompted calls for her resignation.
Shinawatra's suspension marks her as the third member of the influential Shinawatra family—who have played a significant role in Thai politics for the last two decades—to be removed from power prematurely. Currently, her ruling coalition is frail after the withdrawal of a critical conservative ally two weeks prior.
The Constitutional Court's ruling was passed with a 7-2 vote, granting Shinawatra a span of 15 days to respond to the allegations. During her suspension, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit will assume the responsibilities of acting prime minister. If the court upholds the petition for her removal, she would join her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed last August for cabinet decisions involving a former lawyer with a controversial past.
The 38-year-old Shinawatra, who recently saw her approval rating plummet to 9.2%—a stark decrease from 30.9% earlier this year—has acknowledged the sensitive nature of the leaked call, describing her comments as merely a "negotiation technique" in relation to ongoing border disputes. Nonetheless, conservative politicians have criticized her approach, arguing it demonstrates a submissive stance towards Cambodia, thereby undermining Thailand's military authority.
Adding to the political chaos, Shinawatra's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, has recently been embroiled in his own legal issues, facing charges related to an interview that allegedly insulted the monarchy. His trial commenced on Tuesday as he confronts the implications of Thailand's stringent lese majeste laws. His return from 15 years in exile was part of a larger political reconciliation effort, which has stirred controversy in the current political landscape.
Shinawatra's suspension marks her as the third member of the influential Shinawatra family—who have played a significant role in Thai politics for the last two decades—to be removed from power prematurely. Currently, her ruling coalition is frail after the withdrawal of a critical conservative ally two weeks prior.
The Constitutional Court's ruling was passed with a 7-2 vote, granting Shinawatra a span of 15 days to respond to the allegations. During her suspension, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit will assume the responsibilities of acting prime minister. If the court upholds the petition for her removal, she would join her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed last August for cabinet decisions involving a former lawyer with a controversial past.
The 38-year-old Shinawatra, who recently saw her approval rating plummet to 9.2%—a stark decrease from 30.9% earlier this year—has acknowledged the sensitive nature of the leaked call, describing her comments as merely a "negotiation technique" in relation to ongoing border disputes. Nonetheless, conservative politicians have criticized her approach, arguing it demonstrates a submissive stance towards Cambodia, thereby undermining Thailand's military authority.
Adding to the political chaos, Shinawatra's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, has recently been embroiled in his own legal issues, facing charges related to an interview that allegedly insulted the monarchy. His trial commenced on Tuesday as he confronts the implications of Thailand's stringent lese majeste laws. His return from 15 years in exile was part of a larger political reconciliation effort, which has stirred controversy in the current political landscape.
