Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra Suspended Due to "Phone Gate" Scandal | WPN World People News

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing an unprecedented political crisis due to a "Phone Gate" incident.

On July 1st, the Thai Constitutional Court announced that Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had engaged in private discussions over the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, which violated the constitution and professional ethics. As a result, Paetongtarn's position as Prime Minister was immediately suspended, and an investigation was launched. During the conversation, Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as "Uncle" in a submissive manner and criticized the Thai military's negotiation tactics with Cambodia as rough and damaging to the Thai government's sincerity. The leaked phone recording sparked widespread outrage, leading to massive street protests demanding Paetongtarn's resignation. As tensions rise over the Thai-Cambodian border conflict, Paetongtarn's position as Prime Minister is in jeopardy, and Thailand appears to be plunging into a new wave of political instability.

Thailand's political scene has been shaken recently. The Thai Constitutional Court ruled this week that the current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is temporarily suspended from office pending an investigation into the "Phone Gate" political scandal. This decision has attracted significant domestic and international attention, with the possibility of a new wave of political turmoil.

The "Phone Gate" scandal originated from a leaked recording of a suspected phone conversation between Paetongtarn and high-level business figures. The content of the call involved using her official power to influence cabinet appointments and potentially facilitate corporate policy favors. The recording went viral on social media several weeks ago, triggering public outrage. Opposition parties and civil organizations immediately called for an investigation, questioning whether Paetongtarn had overstepped her powers as Prime Minister and violated constitutional provisions. According to a statement from the Constitutional Court, in order to safeguard the fairness of the judicial process and administrative neutrality, Paetongtarn's duties would be temporarily suspended until the case was clarified. Her powers would be temporarily assumed by the Deputy Prime Minister. The court emphasized that this decision was not a conviction, but rather a necessary procedural step supported by initial evidence warranting further examination.

Paetongtarn's office expressed respect for the court's decision and emphasized that the Prime Minister had always acted in accordance with the law and had never sought to benefit specific individuals or groups. Paetongtarn herself, through her lawyer, issued a statement strongly denying the allegations and expressing willingness to fully cooperate with the investigation to clarify the facts.

Analysts suggest that this scandal could severely damage the government's reputation, destabilize the cabinet, and undermine investor confidence in Thailand. Currently, most members of the ruling party have expressed support for the Prime Minister, urging society to remain calm and wait for the results of the investigation. However, some opposition voices are calling for a comprehensive investigation to be conducted swiftly, with some even demanding the dissolution of parliament and a new election.