kathamandu . Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra while it investigates her actions during a recent diplomatic clash with Cambodia. The suspension, announced Tuesday, marks a significant setback for the 38-year-old leader, who came to power less than a year ago and is part of the influential but controversial Shinawatra political family.
For years, Thailand’s political landscape has been defined by a fierce struggle between the conservative, royalist establishment—often backed by the military—and the Shinawatra clan, whom they see as a threat to the country’s traditional hierarchy.
The latest blow to the family came as Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, appeared in a Bangkok court on charges of royal defamation, facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The probe into Paetongtarn centers on her handling of a long-running border dispute with Cambodia, which escalated into deadly clashes in May that left one Cambodian soldier dead. Critics allege she breached ministerial ethics during a private phone call with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, whom she addressed as “uncle” while referring to a Thai military commander as her “opponent.” A leaked recording of the call sparked widespread anger among conservatives, who accused her of disrespecting the military and compromising national interests.
By a vote of 7-2, the Constitutional Court ruled to suspend Paetongtarn from her prime ministerial duties starting July 1 until a final decision is reached on whether she violated constitutional standards of integrity and ethics.
The controversy has already caused political fallout. Her Pheu Thai Party has lost a major conservative coalition partner, and thousands protested against her leadership in Bangkok over the weekend. In response to the crisis, King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday after several of Paetongtarn’s allies resigned from their posts.
Paetongtarn had planned to assume the role of culture minister in the reshuffled cabinet later this week, but it remains unclear whether she can do so while under suspension.
Meanwhile, Thaksin Shinawatra, her father and a key figure in Thailand’s deeply polarizing politics, stood trial Tuesday on charges of violating Thailand’s strict lese majeste laws, which criminalize criticism of the monarchy. The charges stem from a 2015 interview he gave to South Korean media. The trial is expected to continue for weeks, with a verdict unlikely before the end of next month.
“There is a direct and undeniable linkage between the two cases,” Thai political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told AFP, warning that the Shinawatra brand now faces “a critical dilution” as the family’s influence comes under renewed pressure.
Thaksin’s lawyer, Winyat Chatmontri, told reporters outside the court that his client remained calm despite the high stakes: “I can’t speak on his behalf about how he feels, but I think he seems chill,” he said.
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