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Thailand’s PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended by the Constitutional Court amid an inquiry into her conduct during a diplomatic row with Cambodia.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the political heiress of one of the country’s most influential families, was suspended from office by the Constitutional Court, which opened an inquiry into her conduct during a recent diplomatic row with neighboring Cambodia. The court said in a statement, “The Constitutional Court with a majority of 7-2 suspends the respondent from Prime Ministerial duty from 1 July until the Constitutional Court has made its ruling.”
The ruling comes after a group of conservative senators accused Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 38, of breaching ministerial ethics during a call with Cambodian statesman Hun Sen amid tensions over a deadly border clash in May that left one Cambodian soldier dead. In a leaked recording, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was heard referring to Hun Sen as “uncle” and to a Thai military commander as her “opponent”- that sparked outrage among conservative factions and military loyalists.
Who Is Paetongtarn Shinawatra? A Political Heiress With A Powerful Legacy
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is not just Thailand’s second-ever female prime minister- she is also the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon and former prime minister who built a political dynasty that has dominated Thailand elections since 2001. Known affectionately by her nickname “Ung Ing,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra has long been seen as her father’s political heir.
A graduate of Chulalongkorn University in political science and the University of Surrey in international hotel management, she first made headlines as a teenager when Thaksin revealed she would work part-time at McDonald’s during school holidays. Before entering politics, she led her family’s luxury hotel and property ventures, including serving as CEO of Rende Development Co, which manages Bangkok’s upscale Rosewood Hotel.
From Boardroom To PM: A Look At Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Journey
Paetongtarn Shinawatra entered politics through the Pheu Thai Party, a rebranded version of her father’s populist movement and was appointed prime minister in August 2024, following the removal of her predecessor Srettha Thavisin in a similar court case. Her rise signaled a return of the Shinawatra legacy to the country’s highest office.
For now, Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been barred from exercising her prime ministerial duties, as Thailand enters yet another chapter of political uncertainty driven by long-standing tensions between populist leaders and royalist-military institutions.
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