Leaked call crisis: Thailand PM Paetongtarn battles to save government; to meet army commander aiming for a solution
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will visit a senior army commander on Friday in a bid to contain a political crisis that has brought her government to the brink of collapse. The fallout stems from a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen in which she referred to the military commander as her “opponent,” sparking outrage among nationalist and pro-military quarters.The leaked recording, posted online by Hun Sen himself, has plunged Paetongtarn’s fragile coalition into turmoil. Her key ally, the conservative Bhumjaithai party, announced its exit from the ruling bloc on Wednesday, accusing her of disrespecting Thailand’s military and compromising national sovereignty. The move left her Pheu Thai-led coalition with a razor-thin majority in the 500-seat parliament.The 17-minute phone call was made during discussions over a recent deadly border clash in which one Cambodian soldier was killed. Paetongtarn addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” during the conversation, a common form of respect in Thai culture but interpreted by critics as overly deferential. More damaging was her reference to Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang, commander of forces in northeastern Thailand, as an adversary.On Friday, she is expected to meet Boonsin in person in Thailand’s northeast to make amends. Her government has also filed a formal protest with Cambodia, labelling the leak “a breach of diplomatic etiquette,” as per news agency AFP.Facing mounting pressure, Paetongtarn issued a public apology on Thursday, standing alongside army and police chiefs in a display of unity. She explained that her comments were part of a negotiation strategy aimed at easing border tensions and said she would not engage in private discussions with Hun Sen again. “It’s now clear that all that he cares about is his popularity… without considering impacts on relations with other countries,” she said, according to news agency AP.Despite the political storm, there was a glimmer of support for Paetongtarn. The Democrat Party, another conservative coalition partner, announced it would remain in the government “to help resolve the challenges the country is currently facing”. Chartthaipattana also confirmed it would stay, following urgent coalition talks.Still, the situation remains precarious. Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has called for Paetongtarn to dissolve parliament and call fresh elections, stating the leak had destroyed public confidence in her leadership. Nationalist groups staged protests in Bangkok on Thursday demanding her resignation.The crisis has revived fears of another military coup, especially given the Shinawatra family’s turbulent history with the army. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in 2006, and her aunt Yingluck met the same fate in 2014. Thaksin, who remains influential, is widely believed to be pulling strings behind the scenes, fuelling unease among Thailand’s conservative elites.With the government’s future uncertain and the threat of US trade tariffs looming, the political turbulence comes at a critical time for the Thai economy. If more coalition partners defect, Paetongtarn may be forced to call early elections or step aside to allow a new coalition to form, moves that would plunge Thailand into fresh political uncertainty.
