Thai PM Paetongtarn names herself Culture Minister ahead of possible suspension as PM

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces mounting pressure as she reshuffles her cabinet before Thailand’s Constitutional Court meets to consider a petition to dismiss her.

Constitutional court

A petition filed by 36 senators has been submitted to Thailand's constitutional court.

The petition seeks to remove the incumbent PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra for interfering in military affairs or misuse of office to influence national security mechanisms, according to The Nation.

The allegations, if upheld by the court, could constitute a “serious violation of ethical standards”, after which it could choose to issue an interim order suspending Paetongtarn as PM pending a final ruling.

This would not be the first time that the constitutional court has suspended a PM, having done so for previous PM Prayuth Chan-o-Cha, albeit temporarily.

It also dismissed previous PM Srettha Thavisin in August 2024 for appointing a minister with a criminal conviction, paving the way for Paetongtarn to take up the role.

Reuters reported at the time that Srettha had been the fourth Thai PM to be removed by the Constitutional Court in 16 years.

The court is due to rule in the afternoon of Jul. 1.

Shuffling the deckchairs

Paetongtarn has reshuffled her cabinet in response to recent developments.

The Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest in the governing coalition and the third-largest in parliament overall, withdrew its 69 seats from the government, severely reducing its majority.

It also withdrew several ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister.

Thailand’s government has attempted to plug the gaps through a reshuffle, announced on Jun. 30.

Interestingly, Paetongtarn has appointed herself Culture Minister.

The Bangkok Post reported that political watchers have speculated that the move will keep her in the cabinet should she be suspended as PM.

Replacing the Bhumjaithai Party’s Anutin Charnvirakul as DPM is Phumtham Wejayachai, also of Paetongtarrn’s Phue Thai Party.

Wejayachai was previously defence minister, a role left unfilled for the moment.

He might be called upon to take up the role of interim PM should Paetongtarn be suspended, a role not unfamiliar to him as he did so previously when Srettha Thavisin was dismissed in 2024.

Broader issues

Paetongtarn’s difficulties stem from a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

While the border has had disputes before, this most recent round in May 2025 resulted in a gunfight that killed a Cambodian soldier.

In a bid to reduce tensions between the two countries, Paetongtarn appealed to Cambodia’s former PM and current President of the Senate, not to mention old Shinawatra family friend, Hun Sen.

During a phone call, where she referred to Hun Sen familiarly, she appeared to cast aspersions on the leader of the armed forces in charge of the disputed region.

Hun Sen, however, was recording the conversation and eventually leaked it to the public, and accused Paetongtarn of deception and disloyalty to her own country.

No confidence

Thai political forces have interpreted the call in the same way, with the main opposition calling for the government to be dissolved and for fresh elections.

Thailand’s People’s Party, the largest individual party in the Thai parliament and the successor to the now-banned Move Forward Party has met to discuss the next steps.

According to The Bangkok Post, the PP will meet later in the week to decide whether to call for a motion of no confidence.

The PP’s leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, said that timing was important in such considerations, as no-confidence motions could only be brought once a year.

Paetongtarn’s government is weakened but still maintains a majority in parliament of just 12 out of 500 seats.

But even that remains uncertain as individuals within the coalition look to break ranks.

A member of the government from the Democrat Party, Suthan Rahong, has resigned as secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment over the party’s decision not to quit the government.

While Sutham remains with the party, and thus the government, it will not take many defections, perhaps in a motion of no-confidence, to tip the scales.

Top image via Ing Shinawatra/Facebook