Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a formal apology on 19 June 2025 after a leaked phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen provoked a political firestorm that could bring down her fragile government.
The 38-year-old leader, who assumed office in August 2024, admitted that the audio recording of her 15 June conversation with Hun Sen, now Cambodia’s Senate president, had severely eroded public trust. The fallout has been swift and severe.
The leak prompted the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, a key member of her ruling coalition, to withdraw its support. With their 69 lawmakers departing, Paetongtarn’s coalition has lost its parliamentary cushion, leaving her administration on the verge of collapse.
During the call, Paetongtarn referred to a senior Thai military commander as an “opponent” and made informal overtures to Hun Sen, calling him “uncle” and pledging to grant any request in return for assistance with the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border dispute.
These remarks incensed nationalist and military factions in Thailand, while social media erupted with accusations that Paetongtarn had compromised the country’s sovereignty.
In a bid to quell the outrage, Paetongtarn appeared alongside top military officials and Pheu Thai Party leaders at Government House in Bangkok.
“I would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader, which has caused public resentment,” she said, standing stiffly beside generals and cabinet ministers.
Despite her contrition, the damage appears far from contained. The United Thai Nation Party and the Democrat Party—both crucial to maintaining the coalition—have announced internal meetings to decide whether to remain aligned with Paetongtarn’s administration.
According to a report by Reuters, several Democrat MPs privately indicated they were “deeply disturbed” by the tone and content of the conversation, particularly the prime minister’s remarks suggesting she would accede to Cambodian demands without parliamentary consultation.
The leak itself has further strained Thai-Cambodian relations. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Cambodia’s ambassador to formally protest the release of the recording. Paetongtarn’s government accused Cambodia of violating diplomatic norms, while Hun Sen defended his actions as a measure for internal transparency.
Hun Sen admitted on 19 June that he had personally recorded and distributed the conversation to nearly 80 senior Cambodian officials, including party leaders, parliamentary staff, and military advisers.
He justified this as a “precaution” against future misrepresentations, asserting that the Thai side had initiated the call and had been the first to close border checkpoints.
The conversation reveals Paetongtarn repeatedly offering reassurances to Hun Sen, at one point joking that critics in Thailand were urging her to “go be the Cambodian prime minister” instead. In exchange, she sought support in managing border tensions and calming domestic unrest.
Economically, the timing of this scandal could not be worse. Thailand’s economy has struggled to recover from pandemic-era downturns, and confidence in its political stability is crucial to restoring investor faith.
According to Time magazine, fears of snap elections or military interference have already led to sharp drops in the baht and Thai stock markets.
Further compounding the crisis, the opposition Move Forward Party and other progressive groups have seized upon the controversy, demanding either Paetongtarn’s resignation or immediate elections. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, student-led protests gathered momentum, calling for transparency and reform.
Observers are drawing parallels with past political collapses involving the Shinawatra family. Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father, remains a divisive figure in Thai politics and was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Her brother, Panthongtae Shinawatra, has also faced legal challenges linked to family financial dealings.
Although Paetongtarn has not indicated any intention to step down, sources within the Pheu Thai Party suggest a cabinet reshuffle is under consideration to pacify coalition allies. Yet, analysts warn that without a clear restoration of trust, such manoeuvres may only delay the inevitable.
The next few days will be critical. Should another party exit the coalition, the government may fall. Alternatively, other political blocs could attempt to forge a new majority without her.
For now, Paetongtarn’s premiership hangs by a thread, and the leaked phone call that was meant to resolve a regional dispute may instead become the catalyst for a national political reset.
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