Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics violation, ending her premiership after just one year. The ruling marks another dramatic setback for the powerful Shinawatra family and threatens to plunge the country into renewed political turmoil.
Ms. Paetongtarn, 39, was the youngest prime minister in Thai history and a political newcomer when she assumed the role after the dismissal of her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, by the same court last year.
Her removal makes her the sixth leader from or backed by the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty to be forced out of office by the military or judiciary over the past two decades.
Her father, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was toppled in a 2006 coup, while her aunt Yingluck was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in 2014, weeks before another coup that brought the military back to power.
The case against Paetongtarn centred on a leaked telephone call in June with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. At the time, tensions were running high between the two countries over disputed territory along the border.
In its verdict, the court ruled that her remarks in the call, including references to the Second Army Region commander and her use of the pronoun “we,” suggested disunity between her government and the military. Weeks later, clashes broke out along the frontier, lasting five days.
The judges said her conduct breached Section 170 (1)(4) of the Constitution, in conjunction with Sections 106 (4) and (5), which require ministers to uphold integrity, remain subject to public scrutiny, and avoid actions that may undermine national security.
The ruling stated that her words revealed partisanship and internal divisions, leaving Thailand exposed to potential interference by Cambodia.
Ms. Paetongtarn defended her actions, saying she had sought to defuse tensions and prevent armed conflict. She apologised after the audio surfaced and told reporters she had chosen a softer approach with Hun Sen as part of a negotiating strategy to protect Thailand’s sovereignty.
However, complainants argued she failed to uphold the dignity of the prime minister’s office. They pointed to her references to personal and family ties with Hun Sen, saying this gave the impression she was siding with Cambodia.
Her critics also highlighted her description of the Second Army Region commander as an adversary, as well as her apparent willingness to meet Cambodia’s demands during the conversation. Senators claimed this undermined confidence in her leadership and weakened Thailand’s bargaining position.
The phone call occurred at a sensitive moment. In late May, a clash erupted in disputed Ubon Ratchathani territory following Cambodian incursions that had begun in April.
Thailand responded by tightening restrictions at border crossings in early June, reducing opening hours and banning some groups from entering.
Cambodia accused Thai forces of invading its territory and opening fire on its soldiers, and Phnom Penh threatened to bring the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
On June 15, the same day Cambodia filed its case with the ICJ, Ms. Paetongtarn held her controversial conversation with Hun Sen, who repeated his demand that Thailand lift border restrictions.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Ms. Paetongtarn’s ministerial status officially ended on July 1, the date she was ordered to stop performing her duties. The decision also mandates the dissolution of her entire cabinet.
The ruling forces parliament to begin the process of electing a new prime minister, a task that could drag on as political parties and power-brokers negotiate alliances.
The Pheu Thai Party, which leads the coalition government, now finds itself weakened, with reduced bargaining power and the risk of losing control of its fragile majority.
Ms. Paetongtarn’s removal abruptly ends the premiership of Thaksin’s daughter and protégé. Despite her political inexperience, she was thrust into the spotlight after the court removed Srettha in 2024.
Her brief tenure ends prematurely, highlighting once again the turbulence of Thai politics and the enduring role of the judiciary in shaping the nation’s leadership.
She becomes the fifth prime minister in 17 years to be ousted by the Constitutional Court, underscoring the court’s central role in the ongoing struggle between Shinawatra-backed governments and the entrenched conservative-royalist establishment, often supported by the military.
The nine judges voted unanimously to sack Ms. Paetongtarn over the leaked phone call, according to the ruling broadcast by the court.
Supporters of the embattled leader gathered at Pheu Thai headquarters in Bangkok on Friday, watching the verdict unfold on television with visible dismay.
What Happens Next
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and the current cabinet will act in a caretaker capacity until a new leader is chosen by parliament. There is no set timeframe for the vote, leaving open the possibility of prolonged uncertainty.
Five candidates are eligible for nomination, but only one comes from Pheu Thai: Chaikasem Nitisiri, a 77-year-old former attorney general with little cabinet experience and a relatively low profile.
Other possible contenders include former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who retired from politics but led the 2014 coup that ousted a Pheu Thai government, and Anutin Charnvirakul, a former deputy prime minister who recently pulled his party out of Ms. Paetongtarn’s coalition following the phone call controversy.
Analysts warn that forming a stable government will be a major challenge. “Appointing a new prime minister…will be difficult and may take considerable time,” said Stithorn Thananithichot, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University.
“It’s not easy for all parties to align their interests. Pheu Thai will be at a disadvantage.”
The ruling deepens political uncertainty at a time when the country is already facing public frustration over stalled reforms and weak economic growth.
The Bank of Thailand forecasts GDP expansion of just 2.3% this year, adding to the sense of unease. Any government led by Pheu Thai is likely to have only a slender majority, leaving it vulnerable to opposition challenges and calls for early elections.
For now, Thailand faces yet another chapter of political turbulence, with the Shinawatra family once again at the centre of a storm that shows no signs of easing.
