Thailand: Three Prime Ministers in A Week

Just over a year into her term, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended by Thailand’s Constitutional Court. On Tuesday, July 1, the court unanimously accepted a petition accusing her of breaching ethical standards, and subsequently voted 7–2 to suspend her from office. Paetongtarn has been given 15 days to submit evidence in her defence.

She was briefly replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who served as acting prime minister for only one day.

A cabinet reshuffle followed on Thursday, July 3, where Phumtham Wechayachai, a former interior and defence minister, was named the new acting Prime Minister.

In a social media post, the Thai government said Phumtham’s appointment was agreed upon during the first meeting of the newly formed cabinet, held shortly after the swearing-in ceremony led by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The 71-year-old replaces Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

The Phone Call

This development stems from a leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, who is also the former prime minister of Cambodia. The call, which took place on June 15, was leaked days later. Hun Sen later shared on his Facebook page that he had recorded the conversation and shared it with at least 80 people.

In the call, the two leaders, speaking through a translator, were heard discussing border tensions and whether restrictions imposed after a deadly clash should be lifted. The Thai PM was heard addressing Hun Sen as "uncle," acknowledging his long-standing friendship with her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but divisive former Prime Minister of Thailand.

During the conversation, Paetongtarn reportedly urged Hun Sen not to heed a Thai regional army commander who had publicly criticised Cambodia over the border dispute, referring to him as "an opponent." She also reportedly told the Cambodian senior leader to inform her of his desires, and she would endeavour to manage the situation.

Many experts believe the incident simply exposed what had been evident from the start — Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s lack of political and leadership experience, and the Shinawatra family’s miscalculation in trusting Hun Sen. “They were betrayed, and that’s why Paetongtarn let her guard down, unaware that Hun Sen was recording the conversation — a clip that ultimately compromised her position,” said Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor of International Relations at Chulalongkorn University and Senior Fellow at its Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) in Bangkok.

Bhumjaithai Party Quits

When the conversation was leaked, critics swiftly accused Paetongtarn of going too far in appeasing Hun Sen. They argued that her comments, particularly those about the army commander, damaged Thailand's interests and image, with many labelling it as disloyalty.

Paetongtarn has since apologised, but maintains she caused no harm to Thailand, arguing that her comments were a negotiating tactic.

However, on June 18, the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from Thailand’s coalition government, calling on Paetongtarn to take responsibility for her comments in the leaked audio clip.

The Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest party in the coalition government, stated: "Bhumjaithai will work with all Thai people to support the army and officials who safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests of Thailand in all ways."

The conservative Bhumjaithai party's departure means a loss of 69 active Members of Parliament, leaving the coalition, led by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party, with barely enough votes for a majority. Should any other coalition partner withdraw, it could pave the way for a general election – scarcely two years since the last one in May 2023.

Paetongtarn, 38, came to power in August 2024 at the head of an uneasy coalition between Pheu Thai and a group of conservative, pro-military parties whose members have spent much of the last 20 years battling against her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Tensions within the coalition had escalated into open conflict in the past week, as Pheu Thai attempted to wrest the interior minister portfolio from Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul.

The loss of Bhumjaithai leaves the Pheu Thai-led coalition with just a handful more votes than the 248 needed for a majority.

The Saturday Rally

Amidst border and political tensions, over the weekend, thousands of Thais rallied in Bangkok, demanding Paetongtarn's resignation.

Protesters claimed their Prime Minister showcased weakness, and called for stronger leadership. Saturday's rally was the largest of its kind since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023.

Thousands braved monsoon rain, blocking roads at the Victory Monument war memorial in Bangkok, waving Thai flags and holding placards with slogans such as "PM is enemy of state."

Approximately 20,000 protesters joined the rally according to the Bangkok police.

The rally concluded peacefully at night, with protesters vowing to return if Paetongtarn and her government ignored their demands.

Many familiar faces from a conservative, pro-royalist group known as Yellow Shirts were present. These long-time adversaries of Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled in a military coup in 2006. Rallies organised by Yellow Shirts also contributed to the ousting of Thaksin’s sister and Paetongtarn's aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, in a 2014 coup.

Thailand vs Cambodia Clash

The recent dispute was triggered in May after armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia briefly exchanged fire in a relatively small contested border area claimed by both countries. Both sides stated they acted in self-defence, and one Cambodian soldier was killed.

While both countries subsequently agreed to de-escalate the situation, Cambodian and Thai authorities continue to implement or threaten non-military measures, keeping tensions high. Thailand has imposed tight restrictions at its border with Cambodia, stopping almost all crossings in and out of Thailand except for students, medical patients, and those with essential needs.

In response, Cambodia has banned Thai movies and TV shows, ceased the import of Thai fruits and vegetables, and boycotted some of its neighbour’s international internet links and power supply. It has also stopped importing fuel from Thailand

Border disputes are long-standing issues that have caused periodic tensions between the two neighbours.

Thailand and Cambodia share more than 800 kilometres of land border. The contesting claims largely stem from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule, which was used to delineate the border between Cambodia and Thailand. Cambodia has historically used this map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate.

In February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered an ancient temple along the border in one of the disputed areas and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai troops.

The most prominent and violent conflicts have historically erupted around the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded sovereignty over the area to Cambodia and that became a major irritant in relations.

However, Thailand continues to maintain that the ICJ ruling did not definitively demarcate the wider border area, leading to ongoing disagreements.

Troubled Economy

With a suspended PM, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit is now at the helm of a fragile and uncertain coalition.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Thailand. Once hailed as an Asian Tiger for its export-driven growth, the country is now grappling with sluggish economic performance compared to its regional peers.

Household debt remains high, a critical budget bill is still pending, and fears of fresh US tariffs under a possible second Donald Trump presidency are dampening economic outlooks. In May, the government slashed its 2025 growth forecast by a full percentage point, down to just 1.3%.

Adding to the instability, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is set to step down on September 30, with no successor yet announced.

“No one is at the helm and the Thai ship is going nowhere,” said Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak. “The budget bill has to be passed — and that’s now in the hands of a weak, wobbly coalition.”

The Constitutional Court has yet to indicate how long it will deliberate on Paetongtarn’s case.

A prolonged delay risks deepening Thailand’s political vacuum, warns Napon Jatusripitak, acting coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. “Thailand appears destined for a prolonged struggle to find a new prime minister and a political deadlock that could jeopardise the country’s already fragile economic situation,” he said.

Looming in the background is Thailand’s powerful military, a longstanding political kingmaker. Since the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, the military has launched around a dozen coups and continues to exert considerable influence behind the scenes.

It was, in fact, the military and its allied parties that helped usher Paetongtarn into power after the opposition failed to form a government following national elections two years ago. That uneasy coalition also cleared the path for her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to return from long-standing exile.

Despite her suspension, Paetongtarn is not completely out of government. Just hours before the court’s ruling, she was named culture minister in a cabinet reshuffle — a move seen as an attempt to keep her politically relevant. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on Thursday. Still, the damage may already be done: a recent poll puts her approval rating at just 9.2%.

Meanwhile, fears are growing that the coalition could collapse before the 2026 budget is passed, with the fiscal plan due by August. “A lame-duck government would add to the uncertainty, which could hurt both the baht and the stock market,” said Burin Adulwattana, chief economist at Kasikorn Research Centre.

-Asia Media Centre