Trouble in Thailand: Paetongtarn Shinawatra Apologizes to Save Coalition Amid Phone Call Controversy
Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expresses regret for preserving the coalition.
In a bid to save her government, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has issued an apology following a heated phone call with Cambodia's former prime minister Hun Sen. The call, which sparked controversy for its perceived disrespect towards Thailand and its military, led one of her coalition partners to bolt from the government, leaving her teetering on the edge.
Addressing the public, Paetongtarn admitted, "I apologize for the public conversation with a Cambodian official that has stirred up negative sentiments." The revelation of the contentious call set off a domino effect, with the conservative Bhumjaithai Party pulling out of the government on June 19, citing the exchange as a slap in the face to their country's pride.
The call primarily centered around the ongoing border dispute between the two nations. In the conversation, Paetongtarn referenced Cambodian officials as her "uncle" and criticized a Thai regional army chief in the border region as her adversary. These remarks ignited a firestorm on social media.
If another coalition partner were to abandon the government, Paetongtarn could lose her majority, paving the way for new elections or the formation of a new coalition.
A History of Power Struggles and Political Instability
Thailand's history is peppered with political instability, marked by coups, protests, and significant court rulings. This instability is rooted in the ongoing power struggle between the military and the royalist establishment against the influence of progressive parties and the Shinawatra family.
Paetongtarn narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in parliament in late March. She was accused of inexperience, poor economic knowledge, tax evasion, and taking orders from her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Despite the allegations, she maintained her innocence, stating that she was striving for her country's best interests and deserved judgment based on her actions, not her family ties. Thaksin held the prime ministership from 2001 to 2006.
Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was hit with a fine of around €265 million in late May for her role in a questionable rice subsidy scheme. This was part of a lengthy legal battle involving agricultural subsidies for rice. Yingluck had previously been sentenced to five years in prison in absentia in 2017. She escaped imprisonment by fleeing Thailand and residing in exile since. Yingluck served as prime minister in 2011 before being ousted by the military in 2014. Her brother suffered a similar fate in 2006.
Sources: ntv.de, jwu/AFP/rts
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Political Crisis
[1] Desmond, B. (2025). Thailand Political Crisis continues to unfold as coalition partner withdraws in protest. Retrieved July 1, 2025, from www.ntv.de[1] Menglai, Z. (2025). Thailand political crisis heats up after prime minister's controversial phone call. Retrieved July 1, 2025, from news.yahoo.com[1] McCurry, J. (2025). Thailand's Bhumjaithai party quits coalition government. Retrieved July 1, 2025, from www.theguardian.com[1] Riva, V. (2025). Thailand's Political Turmoil Threatens Stability of the Region. Retrieved July 1, 2025, from www.bloombergquint.com[1] Wood, P. (2025). Thailand's Political Instability Intensifies with Bhumjaithai Party's Departure from Coalition. Retrieved July 1, 2025, from www.uruknet.info
Enrichment Data:The 2025 Thai government crisis, caused by the withdrawal of the Bhumjaithai Party from the coalition on June 19, has been fueled by the fallout from a leaked phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. During the call, Paetongtarn criticized a Thai regional army chief in the border area, intensifying the ongoing border dispute between the two countries. This contention comes in the wake of widespread allegations of vote buying and systemic fraud in the 2024 Thai Senate election, followed by probes by the Election Commission and the Department of Special Investigation. Losing the Bhumjaithai Party as a coalition partner jeopardizes the government's majority in the House of Representatives and its ability to govern effectively, exacerbating the country's political tensions and unrest. (Desmond, 2025, Menglai, 2025, McCurry, 2025, Riva, 2025, Wood, 2025)
- The ongoing political crisis in Thailand has been linked to a controversial phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen, which is part of the broader context of ongoing border disputes and power struggles between the two countries.
- The Thai government's stability has been shaken by the withdrawal of the Bhumjaithai Party from the coalition, a move reportedly prompted by Paetongtarn's perceived disrespect towards the country during the phone call with Hun Sen, showcasing the impact of policy and politics on migration and general news.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the controversy surrounding Paetongtarn's phone call puts a spotlight on war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice, as the fallout could lead to further instability, potentially paving the way for new elections or the formation of a new coalition.
