Thailand has entered a new phase of political turbulence as the Constitutional Court officially dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office on Friday, August 29, 2025. The ruling came nearly two months after she was suspended over a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen that raised questions about constitutional ethics and national loyalty.
The controversial phone conversation, which took place on June 15, was intended to ease rising border tensions but quickly spiraled into a political storm. Critics accused Paetongtarn of being overly deferential to Hun Sen while making disparaging remarks about a Thai army general. On July 1, the Constitutional Court suspended her from duty pending investigation, leaving Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to act in her stead.
Friday’s ruling now cements her removal, marking another dramatic downfall for a member of the Shinawatra political dynasty. Both her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and her aunt, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, were previously ousted from power amid political crises.
In the short term, Phumtham will continue as caretaker leader until parliament selects a new prime minister. Under the constitution, any candidate must secure backing from at least 50 lawmakers and win 247 votes in the 492-member House of Representatives. Potential successors include Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri and opposition figures such as Prayuth Chan-ocha, Anutin Charnvirakul, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, and Jurin Laksanawisit.
Analysts warn that Thailand’s political landscape may remain volatile. With the ruling coalition weakened and the Pheu Thai Party under pressure, negotiations over the next leader are expected to be intense. Observers also suggest that parliament could dissolve itself and call for early elections, though that remains uncertain.
Paetongtarn’s dismissal underscores the fragility of Thailand’s democracy and the persistent cycles of instability that have defined its politics for decades. The coming weeks will determine whether the country finds stability under a new leader or slides further into political uncertainty.