Calls for Thai Prime Minister to Resign Following Controversial Phone Call

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing increasing pressure to resign after a leaked phone call with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, which has stirred significant public outrage and prompted the conservative Bhumjaithai Party to withdraw from the ruling coalition. This coalition, led by Shinawatra's Pheu Thai party, is now teetering towards collapse, introducing fresh challenges for the country as it aims to stabilize its economy amidst looming trade tariffs from the United States.

The Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest faction within the coalition with 69 members in parliament, made the decision to leave the alliance, citing that the phone call compromised the country's sovereignty and reflected poorly on the Thai Army. In their statement, they demanded that Paetongtarn take responsibility for her remarks that they claim have brought dishonor to the nation. Following the coalition's downturn, a spokesperson from Paetongtarn's government did not provide any comments regarding the party's exit.

The controversial conversation, during which Paetongtarn referred to Hun Sen as "uncle" and expressed concerns over political repercussions from a border standoff with Cambodia that resulted in casualties, has circulated widely and sparked backlash. This political turmoil is compounded by ongoing tensions within the coalition, particularly as Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai Party has sought to diminish the influence of Bhumjaithai by targeting its leader for removal from a key ministerial role.

With Bhumjaithai's departure, the ruling coalition now only holds a few more seats than the minimum needed for a parliamentary majority, raising the possibility of an impending snap election, just years after the previous one. Two other coalition parties, the United Thai Nation and Democrat Party, are scheduled to hold discussions to address the crisis, realizing that losing their support could effectively end Shinawatra's administration and necessitate either new elections or formulating another coalition. Concurrently, the Palang Pracharath party, which previously governed, has called for the Prime Minister to resign, critiquing her leadership capabilities and warning that Thailand's stability is at risk due to her perceived inadequacies. Another opposition party, Thai Sang Thai, echoed this sentiment, asserting that her conversation with Hun Sen harmed the nation's sovereignty and security.