A Thai court has resigned as Prime Minister Paetong Tarun Sinawatra, who was suspended on Friday, finding that a controversial phone call with a former Cambodian leader violated ethics rules.
A member of the powerful Sinawatra politician dynasty, Petongang became the youngest prime minister in the country in August 2024, serving only for one year in office.
As border tensions with Cambodia escalated, the leaked call on June 15 called Cambodia’s “Uncle” and appeared to criticize the actions of her own military in the border conflict that led to the death of Cambodia soldiers.
Paetongtarn also states that Hun Sen “If you want something, tell me, and I will take care of it” – a controversial statement that became the center of the lawsuit against her.
Her comments on the leaked audio were confirmed as authentic from both sides, and were nerve-wracking in Thailand. Nationalist enthusiasm has already run high in border disputes, with opponents accusing her of compromising the country’s national interests.