According to the report, Nakarin Mektrairat, President of the Constitutional Court, attended the “Board of Members Meeting (BoMM) and Public Lecture” hosted by the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC) at the Siam Kempinski Hotel in Bangkok on June 24, 2025.
Nakharin addressed the recent petition filed by Mongkol Surasatja, President of the Senate, requesting that the Constitutional Court deliberate whether Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s status as Prime Minister should be terminated under Article 170, Paragraph 3, in conjunction with Article 160 (4) and (5) of the Constitution, following the release of an audio clip involving a conversation with Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia.
The Constitutional Court President stated that a regular court meeting is scheduled for July 1 to consider other cases, and it is possible the audio clip case could also be tabled if documentation is complete and has passed preliminary checks.
The court then faces two options: to accept the petition for consideration or to issue an order rejecting it. It is still uncertain whether a decision will be made on July 1, as this depends on the verification of all documents, and the meeting must be attended by all nine justices as required by law.
Crucially, Mr. Nakharin reaffirmed that accepting the petition does not automatically mean an order for the Prime Minister to be suspended from her duties. The court will consider the matter based on the facts of the case and whether continued office may cause repercussions. He noted that in several past cases, the court has accepted petitions without suspending officials from their duties.
Nakharin emphasized that the court has no fixed timeline for its rulings, except for cases under Article 144 of the Constitution—relating to the appropriation of budgets for personal benefit—which the law stipulates must be resolved within 15 days.
When asked about his personal feelings regarding the ongoing audio clip controversy, Nakharin admitted that he felt heavy-hearted, but emphasized that he must perform his duty.
Separately, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is reportedly conducting a preliminary inquiry into the audio clip, investigating complaints alleging that PM Paetongtarn may have engaged in misconduct, violated the Constitution or the law, or seriously breached ethical standards.
Yesterday (June 24), Paetongtarn responded that she has anticipated the inquiry and is ready to provide any necessary information and clarification.
She maintains that the leaked audio was simply a negotiation between national leaders, stating that she gained nothing from the talk, and no harm was done to Thailand. She confirmed her willingness to explain the situation openly and transparently if required.
