Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has no intention of resigning or dissolving parliament, a senior Pheu Thai Party official confirmed on Saturday, amid mounting political pressure and growing public protests.
Speculation had swirled in recent days that the prime minister might step down or call for a new election following the passage of the national budget bill. However, Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong dismissed the rumours in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Speculation that Ms Paetongtarn would accept proposals from coalition parties to quit or dissolve parliament after the passage of the budget bill are completely untrue,” he wrote.
Sorawong, who also serves as the minister of tourism and sports, was responding to calls for Paetongtarn’s resignation over her handling of a sensitive border dispute with Cambodia.
The controversy has intensified following the leak of a phone call between the prime minister and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, during which she appeared to criticise the Thai military.
The leak has sparked a wave of protests, with demonstrators demanding Paetongtarn’s ouster. The scandal also prompted the Bhumjaithai Party to withdraw from the ruling coalition, citing the incident as one of the reasons behind its departure.
The move leaves the government with a narrow majority in the 495-member House of Representatives.
In his Facebook post, Sorawong reiterated the prime minister’s commitment to her role.
“The Prime Minister has firmly affirmed to us that she will continue to fully carry out her duties in addressing the crises the country is currently facing,” he said.
In an attempt to contain the fallout, Paetongtarn has issued a public apology and urged for national unity. On Friday, she visited troops stationed at a border post to demonstrate her support for the military amid the ongoing standoff with Cambodia.
Sorawong added that the administration is now focused on resolving the Thai-Cambodian border conflict through firm diplomatic and security responses. The government is also prioritising negotiations to address looming US tariff threats.
Coalition Under Pressure
The ruling coalition, led by Pheu Thai, currently controls around 255 seats—barely over the majority threshold.
Its stability is now at risk, with the ultra-conservative United Thai Nation Party (UTN), which holds 36 seats, threatening to exit unless Paetongtarn steps down to pave the way for a new prime ministerial vote.
However, the UTN appears divided. Only 18 members, aligned with party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, are backing the proposal to leave the coalition. Pirapan is considered one of the potential successors should the House be forced to select a new prime minister.
A breakaway faction of UTN, led by former labour minister Suchart Chomklin, is still weighing its options. The group may choose to align with the Klatham Party while remaining part of the ruling coalition.
If the 18-member Pirapan group formally withdraws, the government could lose its working majority, casting doubt on its ability to govern effectively. The new parliamentary session is scheduled to begin on July 3.
