Political Pressure Mounts: Thai Leaders Call for Prime Minister's Stepdown Following Disagreements
In the heart of Bangkok, Thailand's capital, a wave of political unrest swept through the city on the 2nd and 3rd of August, 2025. Thousands of demonstrators, led by nationalist groups, gathered at the Victory Monument, voicing their opposition to the suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra [1][2][3][4].
The protests were sparked by a series of events, including a deadly border conflict with Cambodia that claimed over three dozen lives and displaced over 260,000 people [1][2]. The conflict escalated amid allegations that PM Paetongtarn and her family have close ties with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, fueling public anger [1][2][4].
The demonstrations reached a peak when a leaked June phone call revealed PM Paetongtarn referring to Hun Sen as "uncle" and criticizing a Thai military commander. This incident further intensified accusations that her family's close ties with Hun Sen had worsened the longstanding border tensions [1][2][4].
The protesters, who included many familiar faces from the conservative and pro-royalist group known as the "Yellow Shirts," demanded PM Paetongtarn's immediate resignation without waiting for the verdict of Thailand’s Constitutional Court [1][2][4]. The court, which suspended her on July 1, 2025, is expected to deliver its ruling soon, and it could lead to her removal from office [2][4].
The protests also reflect broader political turmoil in Thailand, including the 2024 Senate election vote-buying scandal and recent judicial actions against Paetongtarn's government coalition [4]. Protest leaders accuse her of compromising national security and have urged coalition parties to withdraw support from her Pheu Thai Party-led government [2].
It is important to note that the "Yellow Shirts" played a significant role in the overthrow of Thaksin Shinawatra's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra's, elected government in a coup in 2014.
The Thai army, which has played a major role in politics and has successfully staged 13 coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, has yet to comment on the current situation.
As the temperature dropped in the evening, more protesters were expected to join, with patriotic songs and speeches denouncing PM Paetongtarn and her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, echoing through the streets of Bangkok.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August 4). Thailand protests: Thousands gather against PM Paetongtarn. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58181829 [2] Reuters. (2025, August 4). Thousands rally in Bangkok against Thai PM Paetongtarn over border conflict, leaked phone call. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thousands-rally-bangkok-against-thai-pm-paetongtarn-over-border-conflict-2025-08-04/ [3] The Guardian. (2025, August 5). Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces calls to resign over border conflict with Cambodia. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/thai-pm-paetongtarn-shinawatra-faces-calls-to-resign-over-border-conflict-with-cambodia [4] The New York Times. (2025, August 6). Thailand's Political Crisis: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/world/asia/thailand-political-crisis.html
- The recent wave of political unrest in Bangkok, Thailand, is heavily intertwined with war-and-conflicts, as the protests were initiated by a deadly border conflict with Cambodia.
- The current political crisis in Thailand is not just limited to the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra; it extends to broader issues within politics and general-news, including the 2024 Senate election vote-buying scandal and judicial actions against her government coalition.
