Thailand’s Constitutional Court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her duties as it considers a case seeking her removal from office. The move intensifies pressure on her administration, which is already facing challenges on multiple fronts. In a statement, the court confirmed it had accepted a petition filed by 36 senators. The complaint accuses Paetongtarn of misconduct and ethical violations under the constitution, following the leak of a sensitive phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen.

While the court deliberates, a deputy prime minister is expected to step in as caretaker leader. Paetongtarn, however, will stay in the cabinet in her new role as culture minister, appointed in a recent reshuffle. The government has not yet issued a response to her suspension. The leaked June 15 phone call—intended to ease rising tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border—sparked public outrage. In it, Paetongtarn was heard bowing to Hun Sen and criticizing a Thai army commander, a sensitive move in a country where the military holds significant sway. She later apologized, explaining her comments were part of a negotiation strategy.

The incident has weakened her coalition, which now clings to a fragile majority after a key partner withdrew and signaled plans to pursue a no-confidence vote. Protesters are also calling for her resignation. Only 10 months into her tenure, Paetongtarn’s leadership is being tested severely. Her struggles reflect the waning influence of the Pheu Thai Party—long dominated by the Shinawatra family—which has endured numerous military coups and legal setbacks since 2001.

Paetongtarn, 38, entered politics as a newcomer, stepping in after the dismissal of her predecessor Srettha Thavisin, who was removed by the court for appointing a minister with a criminal history. Her administration has also faced difficulties reviving Thailand’s sluggish economy. Public support has dropped dramatically, with a recent poll showing her approval rating plummeting to just 9.2% in June, down from 30.9% in March. Compounding her challenges, her father and political mentor, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is dealing with his own legal troubles. On Tuesday, he appeared in court on charges of insulting the monarchy—an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Thaksin has denied the charges and reaffirmed his loyalty to the royal family.

The case arises from a 2015 interview he gave while living in self-imposed exile. After returning to Thailand in 2023 to serve a sentence for corruption, Thaksin, 75, avoided jail by staying in hospital detention for six months. He was released on parole in February. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the circumstances of that hospital stay and may decide to return him to prison.