Thailand’s political scene has been thrown into turmoil once again after the Constitutional Court dismissed the sitting prime minister over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader.
The decision marks the fifth time a prime minister linked to the Shinawatra family has been removed from office by the court.
The ruling came after judges found that the leader had breached ethical standards during a private conversation that was later leaked by Hun Sen, Cambodia’s veteran strongman.
The recording revealed criticism of a senior army officer and a conciliatory stance on the two countries’ border tensions.
Once public, the call fractured the governing coalition, leaving the administration with little support in parliament.
The court’s decision follows a pattern that has shaped Thailand’s modern politics.
Every Shinawatra-backed government has faced removal or legal dissolution, fueling perceptions that the judiciary often rules against politicians seen as a challenge to royalist and conservative forces.
The same court has also dissolved multiple political parties, including reformist groups such as Move Forward, which had won the 2023 election before being disbanded.
The fallout from the leaked call has been severe, not only politically but also diplomatically.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia, already strained over the border issue, escalated into a brief but deadly conflict earlier this year.
More than 40 people were killed during the clashes, and nationalist sentiment in Thailand surged.
Attention now shifts to who will succeed the ousted leader. The ruling Pheu Thai Party has only one candidate left to nominate, a veteran figure with limited influence and health problems.
Another option is Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, but ties with Pheu Thai remain fragile after the coalition split.
Calls for a fresh election are growing, yet Pheu Thai fears a heavy defeat after failing to deliver on its major promises, including the much-criticised digital wallet scheme.
With public support fading and its dominance shaken, the Shinawatra political dynasty faces its most uncertain future in decades.