BANGKOK, August 29, 2025 – Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office today, citing an ethics violation. This ruling comes just over a year into her tenure, marking yet another major blow to the enduring Shinawatra political dynasty. Paetongtarn was Thailand’s youngest-ever prime minister and remains the latest in a line of Shinawatra-affiliated leaders unseated by judicial or military means in recent decades.
The court judgement stems from a leaked June phone conversation between Paetongtarn and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, during a period of escalating border tensions. In the audio, she appeared deferential—referring to Hun Sen as “uncle”—while also criticizing a Thai army general, prompting accusations she undermined national interests and breached the constitutional requirement for ethical conduct.
Following her removal, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and the cabinet will serve in a caretaker capacity until Parliament elects a successor, a process expected to be politically fraught and drawn out. With a razor-thin majority, Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party now faces acute challenges retaining power.
This judicial decision casts a shadow over the Shinawatra political legacy, first established by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and continued through party proxies. Political analysts say this could trigger a period of heightened instability, as rival factions and parties vie to form a new coalition. Potential candidates include Chaikasem Nitisiri, Anutin Charnvirakul, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Jurin Laksanawisit, and even retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha—though each faces political or institutional constraints.
Paetongtarn’s ousting, as only the fifth premier dismissed by Thailand’s constitutional court in 17 years, underscores the enduring tension between the country’s populist leaders and entrenched conservative, military, and judicial establishments. Her removal is likely to reshape Thailand’s political terrain in the weeks and months ahead.
