Bangkok, July 1 (AseanAll)  — The Constitutional Court of the Kingdom of Thailand on 1 July 2025 suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty over her private conversation with Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, on the Thai-Cambodian border situation.

The decision was made after the court had accepted a petition from 36 senators, asking the court to investigate the audio recording of the phone conversation, which was leaked by Hun Sen. The senators accused the Prime Minister of seriously breaching ethical standards, saying that her conversation affected the country’s sovereignty and caused damage to the army and the people.

The Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend Prime Minister Paetongtarn pending its consideration of the case. The Prime Minister has 15 days to present her defense.

Speaking after learning of the Constitutional Court’s order, Paetongtarn explained that her private conversation with the President of the Senate of Cambodia was intended to protect Thailand’s sovereignty, bring about peace, and avoid fighting and loss of lives. She also had no intention of doing it for my own interest.

However, Ms. Paetongtarn will remain in the Cabinet as Minister of Culture, a new appointment following the Cabinet reshuffle; the new Cabinet lineup was made known to the public on 1 July 2025. 

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit now serves as acting prime minister. He will lead new Cabinet members to swear an oath before the King of Thailand on 3 July 2025.