Thailand was thrust into political uncertainty on Friday after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, ruling that she violated ethical standards during a phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
In a 6–3 decision, the court said Paetongtarn, 39, placed “private interests above national duty,” citing a leaked conversation in which she appeared overly deferential to Phnom Penh during a border dispute. The ruling immediately dissolved her cabinet, making her the sixth leader from the Shinawatra political dynasty to be ousted by coup or court intervention over the past two decades.
Acting Leadership
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been appointed interim leader while the ruling Pheu Thai Party works to nominate a successor. Party insiders have put forward Chaikasem Nitisiri, a 77-year-old former attorney general, though coalition politics and slim parliamentary margins could complicate his appointment.
Political Repercussions
Paetongtarn, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was Thailand’s youngest-ever premier and sought to stabilize a fragile coalition while pushing modest reforms. Her removal highlights the recurring role of Thailand’s judiciary in shaping political outcomes, a dynamic that has repeatedly undermined long-term governance stability.
Analysts warn the decision may deepen divisions and trigger renewed political turbulence at a time when Thailand is struggling with sluggish economic growth, investor unease, and public frustration over cost-of-living pressures.
A Dynasty Under Pressure
For the Shinawatra family, once dominant in Thai politics, the ruling marks another setback. Paetongtarn’s premiership was seen as a continuation of her father’s populist legacy. Instead, her ouster reflects the enduring resistance faced by the dynasty from conservative and institutional forces.
As Thailand enters another period of caretaker leadership, markets and international observers are closely watching whether coalition negotiations will yield a stable replacement or whether the country risks sliding into yet another cycle of uncertainty.
