Thailand Holds Its Breath as Prime Minister Faces Court Decision
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Aug 29, 2025
Thailand is on edge as its Constitutional Court prepares to decide the fate of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra today. The 39-year-old, who’s been leading the country for just a year, is caught in a firestorm over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen.
The controversy has stirred up a mess, with many worried it could tip Thailand into yet another round of political chaos. The trouble started with a June call that rubbed people the wrong way. At the time, Thailand and Cambodia were locked in a tense border dispute, and some felt Paetongtarn came off as too soft in the conversation, putting the country’s pride at stake.
She’s since said she was just trying to cool things down and avoid a bigger conflict. While a ceasefire is now holding, the backlash hasn’t let up.
- Thailand awaits court verdict on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s future
- Paetongtarn faces suspension threat as Constitutional Court rules today
- Thailand on edge: PM’s fate tied to leaked Hun Sen call controversy
As the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn is no stranger to Thailand’s wild political scene. Her family’s Pheu Thai party has a strong grip on politics, but they’ve been knocked down before by coups and court rulings. In July, 36 senators called for her suspension, leading to today’s make-or-break moment. If the court boots her out, she’d be the fifth prime minister in 17 years to get the axe this way, and parliament would have to scramble to pick a new leader from a short list of 2023 election candidates.
This couldn’t come at a worse time for Thailand’s economy, which is already struggling. Tourism is taking a hit, and new U.S. tariffs aren’t helping. The economy grew 2.8% last quarter, but folks are nervous about what more instability could do.
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Thaksin, still a big deal behind the scenes, just dodged a legal bullet himself. But today’s decision could shake up Paetongtarn’s shaky coalition and spark protests, leaving Thailand’s future up in the air.
