Thai Prime Minister Paetong Tarun Sinawatra officially assumed office on Tuesday, despite an ongoing inquiry related to leaked phone conversations with senior leaders of Cambodia.
“I guess my goal was to find ways to avoid conflict, maintain peace, and prevent any harm to our soldiers. If your discussions with other leaders could lead to negative outcomes, that’s not something you can just overlook,” Paetongtarn noted.
Meanwhile, a judge in Thailand’s constitutional court voted unanimously on a petition claiming ethical violations, ultimately suspending Paetongtarn for a period of 12 days, during which he must provide evidence to the court.
This suspension follows contentious discussions reportedly between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senator Hun Sen, ignited after a May 2025 border conflict that resulted in casualties among Cambodian forces, sparking protests and backlash.
On June 28, anti-government demonstrators gathered in Bangkok, calling for the resignation of Paetong Tarun Sinawatra over the leaked conversations linked to the border dispute. Reporting indicated that national sentiments were running high, with many voicing their frustrations in the streets.
In recent years, Thailand has experienced notable political turmoil, with Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, ousted by a court ruling for similar ethical infractions. So, the political landscape remains quite unstable.
