Thailand’s Prime Minister Removed From Office Over Ethics Breach

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for violating political ethics, marking yet another dramatic blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty and plunging the country back into political uncertainty.

In a 6-3 ruling, the court found Paetongtarn, 39, guilty of compromising national interests in a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen during a period of high tension between the two countries. The court said she had “put personal ties ahead of national interest”, damaging the country's reputation and public trust, as per Reuters.Weeks after the call, a five-day border clash broke out between Thai and Cambodian forces.

The ruling ends Paetongtarn’s premiership after just one year in office, making her the sixth Shinawatra-backed leader to be ousted by the military or judiciary in Thailand’s two-decade-long power struggle between elected populist governments and the country’s conservative royalist establishment.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will serve as caretaker leader until a new prime minister is elected by parliament. However, the constitution sets no timeline for when this must happen, potentially dragging the process out for weeks or months.

The political vacuum has triggered intense behind-the-scenes negotiations among coalition members and rival factions. With Pheu Thai holding a razor-thin majority of just seven seats, the party’s grip on power is fragile. The party’s only remaining eligible candidate for prime minister is 77-year-old Chaikasem Nitisiri, a low-profile former justice minister. Analysts say his lack of political clout and experience may make it hard for him to lead or enact meaningful reforms.

Other possible contenders include Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who recently withdrew his support from Paetongtarn’s government, and Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga. Even retired general and former PM Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup against a previous Pheu Thai government, has re-emerged as a potential compromise candidate, though he has officially left politics and now serves as a royal adviser.

The decision threatens to destabilise the ruling coalition and could lead to early elections if a consensus isn’t reached. Observers believe Paetongtarn’s father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, will play a central role in brokering a deal, despite his strained ties with Thailand’s conservative elite.

With economic growth forecast at just 2.3% this year and reforms stalled, the political uncertainty could prolong Thailand’s stagnation. A leadership vacuum, or a fragile coalition under a weak prime minister, risks fuelling public frustration and strengthening calls for systemic change led by the progressive opposition. Thailand’s political future now hinges on whether the parties can reach a stable agreement or whether this latest crisis ushers in another turbulent chapter in its long-running power struggle.