On August 29, 2025, Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office due to an ethics violation, marking a significant blow to the Shinawatra political dynasty. The ruling, linked to a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, has plunged Thailand into political uncertainty.
The court’s verdict centred on a June 2025 phone call where Paetongtarn appeared to undermine Thailand’s military while addressing Hun Sen as “uncle.” Consequently, the court ruled that this breach of ethical standards led to her removal after just one year in office. The decision followed her suspension on July 1, 2025, prompted by a petition from 36 senators.
Thailand's Constitutional Court has removed the country's PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, over a controversial leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader. pic.twitter.com/XUlbEuvD00
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 29, 2025Paetongtarn, Thailand’s youngest prime minister at 39, is the sixth Shinawatra family member or ally to be ousted by military or judicial action in two decades. For instance, her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and aunt, Yingluck, faced similar fates. The Shinawatra clan’s rivalry with Thailand’s royalist and military elites has fueled this ongoing power struggle.
The leaked call, which sparked public outrage, led to a fragile coalition under Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party losing key allies, weakening its parliamentary majority. The court’s ruling now paves the way for a new prime minister election, with only five eligible candidates, including Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri.
The dismissal threatens political stability. For example, the Pheu Thai party faces challenges in maintaining its coalition, and public unrest over a struggling economy, projected to grow only 2.3% in 2025, adds pressure. Additionally, the opposition, with strong public support, may push for early elections.
