Thai Prime Minister Restructures Cabinet Amid Ongoing Political Turmoil
On Monday, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra commenced a cabinet reshuffle as her government faces a political and judicial crisis triggered by the release of a private phone conversation that poses a serious threat to her administration.
At 38 years old, the daughter of the contentious former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra began reallocating ministerial positions that became vacant after her main coalition partner’s withdrawal last week. This event nearly precipitated the downfall of her government.
Having held office for under a year, Paetongtarn is in a precarious situation, dealing with not only internal party negotiations but also an upcoming case before the Constitutional Court that could lead to her disqualification from holding office.
Last week, she encountered mounting pressure to resign or call for new elections, as critics accused her of undermining national integrity and showing disrespect towards the military during discussions with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen regarding an ongoing border dispute.
The conservative Bhumjaithai party exited the ruling coalition led by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party due to this controversy, leaving her administration with a tenuous majority.
However, stability was reestablished when other coalition members reaffirmed their support. Pheu Thai secretary general Sorawong Thienthong told AFP on Monday that all ten remaining parties remain committed to backing the government.
“None of the other parties are retracting their support—those who remain are unified behind the administration,” stated Sorawong.
Political leaders have been engaged in talks regarding the cabinet reshuffle, with an expected finalized lineup by Friday. Notable positions—including that of defense minister—are likely to be altered as tensions concerning the border conflict with Cambodia continue.
Following Bhumjaithai’s departure, the government now holds just over 248 votes needed for a parliamentary majority, making it particularly susceptible to further challenges.
Even if Paetongtarn manages to navigate through this parliamentary crisis, she confronts an even more significant challenge from the Constitutional Court. A group of conservative senators has submitted a petition calling for her removal from office based on her conduct during discussions with Hun Sen.
This same court previously dismissed Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, due to an ethics violation last August. Srettha was part of a long-standing trend involving Thai prime ministers linked to Thaksin who have been ousted through legal rulings or military interventions—this includes both Thaksin himself and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra.
For two decades, Thai politics has been plagued by chronic instability fueled by ongoing conflicts among military factions, pro-royalist groups, and parties associated with Thaksin. While Thaksin remains popular among his rural base at 75 years old, he is simultaneously viewed unfavorably and met with distrust by Thailand’s powerful elite.
