Thai court suspends PM from duty pending case seeking her dismissal
Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government under fire on multiple fronts.
The court in a statement said it had accepted a petition from 36 senators that accuses Paetongtarn of dishonesty and breaching ethnical standards in violation of the constitution over the leak of a politically sensitive telephone conversation with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen.
The government is expected to be led by a deputy prime minister in a caretaker capacity while the court decides the case against Paetongtarn, who will remain in the cabinet as the new culture minister following a reshuffle. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her suspension.
The leaked call with the veteran Cambodian politician triggered domestic outrage and has left Paetongtarn's coalition with a razer-thin majority, with a key party abandoning the alliance and expected to soon seek a no confidence vote in parliament, as protest groups demand the premier resigns.
During a June 15 call intended to defuse escalating border tensions with Cambodia, Paetongtarn, 38, kowtowed before Hun Sen and criticized a Thai army commander, a red line in a country where the military has significant clout. She has apologized and said her remarks were a negotiating tactic.
FAMILY CRISIS
Paetongtarn's battles after only 10 months in power underline the declining strength of the Pheu Thai Party, the populist juggernaut of the billionaire Shinawatra dynasty that has dominated Thai elections since 2001, enduring military coups and court rulings that have toppled multiple governments and prime ministers.
It has been a baptism of fire for political novice Paetongtarn, who thrust into power as Thailand's youngest premier and replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court for violating ethics by appointing a minister who was once jailed.
Paetongtarn's government has also been struggling to revive a stuttering economy and her popularity has declined sharply, with a June 19-25 opinion poll released at the weekend showing her approval rating sinking to 9.2% from 30.9% in March.
Paetongtarn is not alone in her troubles, with influential father Thaksin Shinawatra, the driving force behind her government, facing legal hurdles of his own in two different courts this month.
Divisive tycoon Thaksin, according to his lawyer, appeared at his first hearing at Bangkok's Criminal Court on Tuesday on charges he insulted Thailand's powerful monarchy, a serious offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Thaksin denies the allegations and has repeatedly pledged allegiance to the crown.
The case stems from a 2015 media interview Thaksin gave while in self-imposed exile, from which he returned in 2023 after 15 years abroad to serve a prison sentence for conflicts of interest and abuse of power.
Thaksin, 75, dodged jail and spent six months in hospital detention on medical grounds before being released on parole in February last year. The Supreme Court will this month scrutinize that hospital stay and could potentially send him back to jail.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
40 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Thai leader's suspension deals new blow to battered economy
Thailand's ruling coalition was already fraying when a court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday, raising fresh doubts about her survival, the country's economy and the future of a dynasty that has loomed over the Southeast Asian nation for decades. In a blow to a country long plagued by political instability, the Constitutional Court sidelined the 38-year-old leader over a complaint linked to a leaked phone call in which she appeared to criticize the army and side with Cambodia in a border dispute — a potential breach of conduct under the constitution. She has 15 days to respond. For now, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit leads a shaky coalition. The developments couldn't come at a worse time for Thailand: once feted as an Asian Tiger economy for its export-led growth, the country is mired in slow growth relative to its peers, with households burdened by debt, a budget bill outstanding and the imminent threat of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs weighing down expectations. The government slashed its 2025 growth forecast by a full percentage point to 1.3% in May. Over at the central bank, Gov. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput is due to leave Sept. 30, and a successor has yet to be named. "No one is at the helm, and the Thai ship is going nowhere,' said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. "The budget bill has to be passed, so that's coming up with the wobbly, weak coalition government.' Amid all the turmoil, the Bhumjaithai Party, the ruling coalition's biggest partner, exited last month following weeks of infighting, and there's no guarantee now that others that had promised to stay won't follow. The court has yet to say how long it will deliberate, while a prolonged delay risks deepening the political vacuum, said Napon Jatusripitak, acting coordinator of the Thailand Studies Program 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 jeopardize the country's already fragile economic situation,' he said. Shinawatra, third right, greets the media before leaving the Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday. | Bloomberg Looming over everything is Thailand's influential military, which has led about a dozen coups since the kingdom's absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932 and has long been a key power broker in the country. The military and pro-military political parties were the key forces behind Paetongtarn's eventual ascension to power after a key opposition party couldn't secure enough support to form a government following national elections two years ago. That uneasy alliance paved the way for Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, to return from a long exile. Even with the court's suspension, Paetongtarn isn't totally sidelined from power. Hours before the ruling Tuesday, she was named culture minister in a reshuffle expected to keep her in government. The new cabinet will be sworn in Thursday. But the damage may be permanent. A recent poll showed Paetongtarn's approval rating at 9.2%. Thousands have protested, calling for her resignation. Paetongtarn said Tuesday she accepts the court's ruling but gave little clarity on her future. "I'm still a Thai citizen,' she said. "I will continue to work for the country while my duties are suspended.' Even so, fears are growing the government could collapse before the next budget passes. The 2026 fiscal plan, due by August, is at risk. Burin Adulwattana, chief economist at Kasikorn Research Center, said a lame-duck government would add uncertainty, hurting the baht and stocks. 'Big trouble' "A key impact will be felt if the political turmoil leads to a budget delay,' he said. "Without it, the economy will have big trouble.' The baht fell 0.1% on Wednesday morning. The yield on Thailand's benchmark 10-year bonds was little changed after declining three basis points a day earlier. The benchmark stock index, the world's worst-performing major equity market globally this year, rallied 1.9% Tuesday on expectations that Paetongtarn's suspension will help reduce political tension. Whether things play out that way is far from certain. "This suspension exerts further downside risk to a growth outlook already mired in uncertainty from U.S. tariffs,' said Lavanya Venkateswaran an economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking in Singapore. "The real question is, what next. That needs to be answered sooner rather than later considering the stakes.' If the court ultimately rules against Paetongtarn, she will be removed from office, triggering a parliamentary vote to pick a replacement from a list submitted before the 2023 election. Along with her father and aunt, Yingluck, Paetongtarn would be the third of the Shinawatra clan to be removed from office. Potential replacements Possible successors include the Pheu Thai party's Chaikasem Nitisiri, Bhumjaithai's Anutin Charnvirakul, United Thai Nation's Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, and the Democrat Party's Jurin Laksanawisit. Former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha — who led the last coup — is also eligible. And while a military takeover is always possible in Thailand, frustration over the country's economic performance under Prayuth ultimately pressured his government to allow for elections. "The decision by the court today has heightened the coup risk a bit,' said Thitinan of Chulalongkorn University. But "the last time they had a coup, they did not do well.'
The Diplomat
an hour ago
- The Diplomat
China Sanctions Former Philippine Senator For South China Sea Advocacy
China's government has sanctioned a former Philippine senator and barred him from entering the country, citing his 'egregious conduct' on matters including the long-running disputes in the South China Sea. In a statement yesterday, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said that the government had imposed the sanctions on Francis 'Tol' N. Tolentino, a close ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 'for his egregious conduct on China-related issues.' The spokesperson said that he was among a 'handful of anti-China politicians' who have made 'malicious remarks and moves' that have hurt ties between Beijing and Manila. 'The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests,' the spokesperson added. The sanctions prohibit Tolentino from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. 'There must be a price to pay for harming China's interests,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press briefing later yesterday, Reuters reported. The announcement came a day after Tolentino wound up his six-year term in the Senate, where he had served as majority leader. There he was active on issues related to the South China Sea, where tensions have increased steadily since Marcos took office in mid-2022, culminating in a series of dangerous confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels last year. Tolentino headed the Senate's Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones and played a key role in the drafting of two important pieces of legislation – the Maritime Zones Law and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law – that President Marcos signed into law in November. The Maritime Zones Act sets the limits of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, while the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act establishes a system through which foreign vessels and aircraft can exercise the right of passage through Philippine waters. The two laws sought to operationalize the 2016 ruling, handed down by an arbitral tribunal constituted under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), that supported most of the Philippines' maritime claims and ruled that China's expansive claims to most of the waterway had no standing under UNCLOS. Beijing rejected the ruling, and subsequently lodged a 'stern protest' at the passage of the laws, describing them as an attempt to 'solidify the illegal ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case through domestic legislation.' Tolentino also led a Senate investigation into alleged Chinese espionage activities in the Philippines. In April, he accused the Chinese embassy in Manila of orchestrating a disinformation campaign by hiring 'trolls' 'to spread disinformation, attack Philippine government officials, and promote pro-China narratives under fake social media profiles,' according to the Philippine News Agency. Tolentino sought re-election to the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections as part of Marcos' slate of candidates, seeking to leverage his credentials as a candidate who had stood against Chinese actions in the South China Sea. But he failed to win re-election, placing 25th out of 66 candidates vying for the 12 vacant Senate seats. In a statement yesterday, Tolentino described the sanctions as a 'badge of honor' and 'a testament to my unwavering commitment to protect our national interest and our people's dignity.' 'I have fought – and will continue to fight – for what rightfully belongs to our nation. I stand firmly with the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and our brave fishermen who depend on these waters for their livelihood,' he said. 'No foreign power can silence me or weaken my resolve to uphold our sovereignty.' This appears to be the first instance in which Beijing has imposed a travel ban on an individual Philippine official for their maritime advocacy – and may represent a new means of expressing its opposition to the Marcos administration's defiant South China Sea policy. It certainly does little to push the two countries toward a resolution, as the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late yesterday. 'While these measures are legally within China's prerogative, they are not conducive to mutual efforts to restore mutual trust and improve bilateral relations,' it said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
US Charges Two Chinese Nationals with Attempting to Recruit US Service Members
July 1 (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors have charged two Chinese nationals with acting as agents of China's security service, accusing them of gathering intelligence about U.S. Navy bases and trying to identify Navy members willing to spy for Beijing, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. The suspects facilitated a 'dead-drop payment' of at least $10,000 in a locker at a recreational facility in Northern California in 2022 in exchange for U.S. national security information that had already been passed to Chinese intelligence, the Justice Department said. Yuance Chen, 38, a legal permanent resident living in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren 'Ryan' Lai, 39, who arrived in Houston from China in April on a tourist visa, were arrested on Friday, the department said in a statement. The pair worked on behalf of China's Ministry of State Security and made their initial appearances in federal court in Houston and Portland, Oregon on Monday, it said. The Justice Department gave no details on who provided the national security information or the military members targeted for recruitment. After the 2022 incident, the pair 'continued to work on behalf of the MSS, including to help identify potential assets for MSS recruitment within the ranks of the U.S. Navy,' the Justice Department said. 'The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources,' FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. In a statement to Reuters, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said he was not aware of the specific case but said the allegations were 'assumptions and speculations,' accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy in its global intelligence operations.
