Key Facts
• August 29, 2025: Thai Constitutional Court orders Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s removal.
• Reason: Handling of Cambodia border dispute violated constitutional ethics.
• June 2025: Phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen deemed unethical.
• Court: Actions prioritized personal over national interests, eroding public trust.
• Paetongtarn: Denied personal gain, claimed actions aimed at protecting citizens and soldiers.
• Phone call details leaked online, fueling public scrutiny.
• Paetongtarn, daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, youngest PM in Thai history.
• Appointed in August 2024 by Thai King, served for approximately one year.
• Political turmoil resurfaces in Thailand following her dismissal.
Summary
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office on August 29, 2025, by the Constitutional Court. The decision stemmed from her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia, specifically a June 2025 phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, which the court ruled violated constitutional ethics. The court stated her actions prioritized personal interests over national welfare, undermining public trust. Paetongtarn, the youngest prime minister in Thai history and daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, denied wrongdoing, asserting her actions aimed to protect citizens and soldiers. The leaked phone call details intensified public scrutiny. Her removal, after just one year in office, has plunged Thailand back into political instability.
