Politics Paetongtarn Suspended Over Hun Sen Call, Vows to Fight Charges

[webfact]

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, centre, leaves the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, after Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended the prime minister from office pending an investigation over a leaked phone call with a former Cambodian leader. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is confident she’ll clear her name in court over a controversial call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen. Suspended from her duties today by the Constitutional Court, Paetongtarn stands accused of misconduct and breaching ethical standards. Yet, she remains resolute, asserting that the call was made solely in the nation’s best interest.

 

Granted 15 days to mount her defence, Paetongtarn faces charges led by a group of senators that paint a picture of alleged misconduct. Paetongtarn firmly argues that the intent of the call was to protect Thai soldiers and maintain peace. “I had no personal gain,” she stated, reaffirming her dedication to national security.

 

Despite her suspension, Paetongtarn pledges to continue serving Thailand as a devoted citizen. She offered no remarks on her recent self-appointment as Minister of Culture, a role she assumed while her prime ministerial future faced uncertainty. Party insiders reveal this move was to secure her presence in the government amidst looming legal challenges.

 

Political pundits suggest that her new Cabinet position may encounter its own set of legal hurdles. The accusations before the Constitutional Court highlight serious ethical breaches that impact both her duties as prime minister and as a minister. As Paetongtarn readies her legal defence, the nation watches closely, eager for the next chapter in this unfolding political saga.

 

Her supporters maintain that the call was a necessary diplomatic move, underscoring her commitment to regional stability. Critics, however, argue that the conversation overstepped legal boundaries, potentially undermining constitutional protocols.

 

As tensions simmer, attention is now focused on the forthcoming decisions of the Constitutional Court. Whether Paetongtarn can reclaim her post or face further political obstacles remains to be seen. In the meantime, the political landscape is rife with speculation, as observers await the outcome of this high-stakes courtroom drama.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-07-02

 

 

[blaze master]

Look at the positive...she can spend more time with her ailing father now. 

[watchcat]

49 minutes ago, webfact said:

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is confident she’ll clear her name in court

 

Forget about clearing your name, face te reality, you werent ready for this position whatever your dad told you,

[sammieuk1]

Just clear off will do as the Baht crashes 1 satang 🤔

[Jim Blue]

1 minute ago, sammieuk1 said:

Just clear off will do as the Baht crashes 1 satang 🤔

Baht crashes ? Should we be happy or sad ?

[gargamon]

The only important question here is how will it affect the recriminalization of cannabis use.

[JoePai]

asserting that the call was made solely in the nation’s her father's best interest.

[ozz1]

Why not just call another election but they won't because the elites are scared Thai politics are run by the hisos not by the people unfortunately

[billd766]

I hope that she wins her case, is re instated as PM, and that she then has the CC and EC investigated along with all the senators who started this off.

[Caldera]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is confident she’ll clear her name in court over a controversial call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen.

 

Fight you can. Lose you will. Bye.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

I hope that she wins her case, is re instated as PM, and that she then has the CC and EC investigated along with all the senators who started this off.

I hope she loses, daddy emigrates; the CC & EC grow a pair and then maybe just maybe Thailand gets a real government for the people.

[off road pat]

Breaching ethical standards !?!? I Never even suspected they had  "Ethical standards" in Thailand !!

[pacovl46]

10 hours ago, blaze master said:

Look at the positive...she can spend more time with her ailing father now. 

And “Uncle” Hun!

[CHdiver]

Come on, get her reinstated. She is the hottest thing sitting in this position in Thailand. Who want's a grumpy old fat military head. 

[Reddavy]

10 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Baht crashes ? Should we be happy or sad ?

Any crash of the baht is good. But 1 satang a crash do me a favour 😤

[flexomike]

Do you know who my father is?

[kwilco]

So trying to sort out the border problems the (suspended) PM insults the military.

THe military run thr constitutional court which then suspends the PM amid a background of talk about a military coup. THis cycle of "fake" litigation and suspension of politicians is the Thai way of running a country - it is not democratic, it is at the will of the military and needs to be stopped so the country can get on with becoming a democracy.

[AustinRacing]

You need to have a “name” before attempting to clear it. 

[kwilco]

10 hours ago, JoePai said:

asserting that the call was made solely in the nation’s her father's best interest.

You are using cynicism to cover your ignorance

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, kwilco said:

So trying to sort out the border problems the (suspended) PM insults the military.

When the call was initially leaked she claimed that she didn't really mean what she said about the military and she only said it to trick the Cambodians. (No doubt all part of a cunning plan, the kind that Baldrick would be proud of).

 

So in the space of 24 hours she managed to upset both the military and the Cambodians - quite an achievement.

 

 

[The Old Bull]

8 hours ago, CHdiver said:

Come on, get her reinstated. She is the hottest thing sitting in this position in Thailand. Who want's a grumpy old fat military head. 

Yingluck was hotter.

[Bday Prang]

33 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

Yingluck was hotter.

well past her best, she will have well dried up by now

[kiwikeith]

18 hours ago, billd766 said:

I hope that she wins her case, is re instated as PM, and that she then has the CC and EC investigated along with all the senators who started this off.

I think she will win, I also think that this is over dope shops and casinos and gettng rid of Thaksin without a coup 

Why did Annuitn leave the coalition at the start of this is suspect 

[ThailandRyan]

15 hours ago, kwilco said:

So trying to sort out the border problems the (suspended) PM insults the military.

THe military run thr constitutional court which then suspends the PM amid a background of talk about a military coup. THis cycle of "fake" litigation and suspension of politicians is the Thai way of running a country - it is not democratic, it is at the will of the military and needs to be stopped so the country can get on with becoming a democracy.

Defamation suits seem to run deep in this country........surprised those type of unethical acts have not been removed or stopped. Continue forth Thailand and your belief you are more than a 3rd world country will never be anything more than that.....

[thesetat]

15 hours ago, kwilco said:

So trying to sort out the border problems the (suspended) PM insults the military.

THe military run thr constitutional court which then suspends the PM amid a background of talk about a military coup. THis cycle of "fake" litigation and suspension of politicians is the Thai way of running a country - it is not democratic, it is at the will of the military and needs to be stopped so the country can get on with becoming a democracy.

Wrong.... initially the soldier she insulted said it was ok and he would not press the issue. This happening now is not the soldier but instead her own Senate government. 

[thesetat]

35 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I think she will win, I also think that this is over dope shops and casinos and gettng rid of Thaksin without a coup 

Why did Annuitn leave the coalition at the start of this is suspect 

Smart man for him to leave. The backwash from the PMs action may hit all parties in office. I read somewhere also that there will be a case to get the PTP disbanded and removed from politics as well.

[kwilco]

4 hours ago, thesetat said:

Wrong.... initially the soldier she insulted said it was ok and he would not press the issue. This happening now is not the soldier but instead her own Senate government. 

...and who do you think they represent?????? Do you jot u derstand how the "laws" not the electorate are used to change a government in Thailand....and if that fails they use the barrel of a gun. Always the same people, though.

[Wongkitlo]

On 7/2/2025 at 6:02 PM, pacovl46 said:

And “Uncle” Hun!

I don't like her much and think she is too young for her position but the "uncle" thing is just a beat up. It is just polite on Thai culture to call an older person 'Loong' or 'Na' both meaning uncle. It would have been rude of her to call him something else. 

[kiwikeith]

5 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

I don't like her much and think she is too young for her position but the "uncle" thing is just a beat up. It is just polite on Thai culture to call an older person 'Loong' or 'Na' both meaning uncle. It would have been rude of her to call him something else. 

I agree this whole thing is blown out of proportion it's a coup in disguise 

[bannork]

5 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

I don't like her much and think she is too young for her position but the "uncle" thing is just a beat up. It is just polite on Thai culture to call an older person 'Loong' or 'Na' both meaning uncle. It would have been rude of her to call him something else. 

No, the Prime Minister of one country should not use the familiar tone of 'Uncle 'with another government's senior figure, the father of the current PM. It betrays a familiarity and a junior position in the relationship, almost as bad as Rutte calling Trump, 'daddy'!

Then she went on to say if there were anything he wanted, she would “take care of it''  and he was to take no notice about remarks from the head of her army in Region 2 who just wanted to ''seem cool''.

 Hun Sen before Thailand- wrong , wrong, wrong.