Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday ousted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old political heiress who had become the youngest leader in the country’s history. The ruling, delivered in a 6–3 decision, found her guilty of violating ethical standards after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was deemed to have undermined national integrity.
A Leaked Call That Shifted the Balance
The court’s decision centered on a private June conversation in which Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen in familial terms and disparaged a Thai military officer during a period of heightened border tensions. Judges ruled that the exchange blurred personal ties with national duty and eroded public trust in the office of the prime minister.
Another Fall for the Shinawatra Dynasty
Her removal marks the sixth time in two decades that a member of the Shinawatra family — either Paetongtarn, her father Thaksin, or relatives aligned with their party — has been forced from power through judicial or military intervention. The cycle highlights the enduring fault lines between Thailand’s populist political movements and entrenched establishment forces.
Interim Leadership, Rising Uncertainty
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been appointed caretaker leader while parliament navigates the process of electing a successor. The outcome may hinge on the People’s Party, a pivotal bloc that has positioned itself as a potential kingmaker and is pressing for constitutional reforms.
The Road Ahead
For Thailand, the ruling rekindles political uncertainty at a time when economic recovery is faltering and public frustration with institutions is mounting. Analysts suggest that calls for early elections or sweeping reforms could intensify, once again thrusting the country into a familiar cycle of power struggles — with the Shinawatra name at the center of the storm.
