Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Thailand, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressing dissatisfaction over tensions with Cambodia. The demonstration in Bangkok is the most significant protest against the government of 38-year-old Paetongtarn, who came to power in 2023. Paetongtarn is the second woman to be elected as Thailand’s Prime Minister and the youngest person to assume the responsibilities of the office. She is the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold this position, following her father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Such protests played a crucial role in ending Shinawatra family-affiliated governments in 2006 and 2014. These demonstrations have added further challenges to Thailand’s economic difficulties. However, Paetongtarn has stated that she is not concerned about the protests and has instructed relevant authorities to allow peaceful expression of opinions.
Paetongtarn’s control has been significantly weakened following the Bhumjaithai Party’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition last week. Consequently, she is expected to face a no-confidence vote when the legislature reconvenes next week. The Bhumjaithai Party left the government coalition due to a leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. In the call, Paetongtarn heavily criticized a senior Thai military official in the border area with Cambodia, apparently in an attempt to please Hun Manet.
The phone call was leaked at a time when tensions were high between the two countries over regional border disputes. The handling of this phone call by Paetongtarn has led to questions being raised, with cases filed against her in Thailand’s Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission. Paetongtarn has since apologized for the phone call incident.
