Thai PM Suspended Amid Ethics Probe Over Cambodia Row

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been temporarily removed from office after the Constitutional Court agreed to hear a case questioning her conduct during a recent diplomatic dispute with Cambodia.

In a ruling delivered Tuesday, the court announced that it was suspending Paetongtarn from her prime ministerial duties with immediate effect, pending a final verdict on the matter. The decision came through a 7-2 majority vote by the bench.

The case was initiated by a group of conservative senators who accused the prime minister of violating constitutional ethics during a heated border standoff with Cambodia. The incident stems from a long-standing territorial dispute, which escalated into a deadly clash in May, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

At the heart of the controversy is a leaked audio clip of a phone call between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the recording, Paetongtarn is heard addressing Hun Sen as "uncle"—a term considered overly familiar and deferential in the context of international diplomacy—while referring to a senior Thai military commander as her "opponent".

The language used in the call sparked uproar among conservative politicians and military circles, who accused Paetongtarn of displaying undue subservience to Cambodia and undermining the authority of the Thai armed forces. Critics claim her conduct falls short of the constitutional requirements demanding that ministers demonstrate “evident integrity” and uphold high “ethical standards”.

The court’s decision to suspend her, though not a final judgment, marks a significant political setback for Paetongtarn, who is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and has faced intense scrutiny since assuming office.

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