Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, moved to shore up support from coalition partners on Sunday amid mounting pressure over her leadership, triggered by a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen.
Addressing public calls for her resignation, Paetongtarn said all parties in the coalition had reaffirmed their support, emphasizing that her government’s priority is to maintain political stability as the nation faces security challenges.
Paetongtarn has come under intense scrutiny following the release of an audio conversation in which she appeared to defer to Hun Sen and disparage a senior Thai military figure.
The fallout from the leak was swift: Bhumjaithai Party, a significant coalition partner, exited the ruling alliance, casting doubt over her Pheu Thai-led government’s command of a parliamentary majority and fueling speculation about further defections.
Opposition critics seized on her remarks, arguing that they undermine Thailand’s security and sovereignty, while the exodus of Bhumjaithai underscores vulnerabilities in her coalition.
Despite the mounting political headwinds, Paetongtarn, daughter of influential former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, posted on social media that the nation must move on, Thailand need to unite and helps its people, recounting a meeting with coalition partners, including United Thai Nation (UTN), in which she stressed national unity.
The 38-year-old leader reasserted her government’s commitment to constitutional order and claimed the military remains aligned with democratic principles.
Nonetheless, activist groups with a track record of large-scale demonstrations against the Shinawatra family are mobilizing for protests, calling for Paetongtarn’s immediate departure.
