Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty, intensifying pressure on a government already grappling with political instability.
The move comes as the court deliberates a petition seeking her dismissal, Reuters reported.
The suspension follows the court’s unanimous acceptance of a case filed by 36 senators, who accused Paetongtarn of dishonesty and violating constitutional ethics. The allegations center on a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s former Prime Minister Hun Sen, which critics say crossed diplomatic and military red lines.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has been appointed caretaker prime minister during the proceedings. Paetongtarn, who was recently reassigned as Minister of Culture in a cabinet reshuffle, has 15 days to respond to the charges.
The suspension poses a critical challenge for Thailand’s gaming sector, as Paetongtarn and the ruling Pheu Thai Party had been driving forces behind legislative efforts to legalize and regulate the industry. With her suspension from duty, progress on the gaming framework is expected to stall further, with discussions now tentatively delayed until August—deepening uncertainty over regulatory reforms.
The scandal stems from a June 15th phone call during which Paetongtarn sought to ease rising border tensions with Cambodia. During the exchange, she was heard offering deference to Hun Sen and criticizing a senior Thai military commander—comments seen as politically reckless in a country where the military retains strong influence. She later apologized, framing her remarks as a diplomatic tactic.
Meanwhile, exiled Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy claimed the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen orchestrated the leak to distract from a Thai crackdown on criminal networks operating along the Cambodia-Thailand border. Rainsy has accused Hun Sen of stoking the cross-border controversy to protect illicit revenue streams allegedly supporting his rule.
According to Rainsy’s statement published on Facebook, these syndicates—some reportedly controlled by Chinese mafia groups—play a key role in propping up Hun Sen’s regime. Many are allegedly linked to border casinos that cater to Thai nationals and generate an estimated $12 billion in illicit annual revenue. Rainsy cited a report from Thailand’s Center for Gambling Problem Studies, alleging close ties between Cambodia’s casino operators and political elites, facilitated through nominee shareholders and profit-sharing agreements with officials.
The exiled politician accused Hun Sen of using anti-Thai rhetoric as a nationalist smokescreen, aimed at diverting public attention from corruption and the regime’s reliance on underground income streams, particularly as legitimate revenue sources continue to erode.
The dispute currently shows no signs of abating. If Paetongtarn is dismissed, she will be the third political figure from the Shinawatra family, who have dominated Thai politics for the past 20 years, to lose power before completing their term.
The ruling coalition she leads is currently teetering on the brink, after the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew two weeks ago, leaving the alliance with only a slim majority.
