Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appeared before the Constitutional Court on Thursday, August 21st, to testify in a case seeking her removal from office. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on August 29th.
The 39-year-old, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, faces accusations of failing in her constitutional duties during a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen regarding Thailand’s border dispute with Cambodia.
Dressed in a black business suit, Paetongtarn smiled and greeted reporters as she arrived at the court in Bangkok alongside Prommin Lertsuridej, a senior adviser who is also named in the case.
The controversy stems from a June phone call between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, Cambodia’s longtime ruler and father of the current premier, which was later leaked online. During the conversation, Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and referred to a Thai military commander as her “opponent,” remarks that drew sharp criticism within Thailand. Conservative lawmakers accused her of showing deference to Cambodia and undermining the military, a powerful institution in Thai politics.
The leak triggered major political fallout. The main partner in Paetongtarn’s ruling coalition withdrew in protest, nearly collapsing her government. A group of senators subsequently petitioned the Constitutional Court, arguing that she had violated constitutional provisions requiring “evident integrity” and “ethical standards” among ministers.
Paetongtarn, who has defended her conduct and insists she acted in Thailand’s national interest, assumed office less than a year ago after her predecessor was removed by the same court. She was suspended from duty last month while the case proceeds.
If ruled against, she would become the third Shinawatra family member to be forced out of office, following her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck, both of whom were ousted in military coups. The case highlights Thailand’s enduring political divide, with two decades of confrontation between the conservative, pro-military, pro-royalist establishment and the Shinawatra camp, seen by critics as a challenge to traditional order.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Thai government on July 9th, 2025, officially withdrew the Entertainment Complex Bill amid strong public opposition. The legislation, which proposed legalizing casinos and developing integrated resorts to spur tourism and spending, faced widespread political and social pushback before being scrapped.
The leaked conversation also strained Thai-Cambodian relations, contributing to their deadliest border clashes in decades in June. The fighting left more than 40 people dead and displaced 300,000 residents along the frontier.
