Thailand’s Senate President Files Petition to Impeach Prime Minister Paetongtarn Over Leaked Audio with Hun Sen

Bangkok, June 21, 2025: In a dramatic rise in political unrest in Thailand, Senate President Mongkol Surasajja has officially asked both the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Constitutional Court to look into Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and possibly remove him from office. The petition came after a leaked audio clip of a contentious talk between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, the president of the Cambodian Senate and a former prime minister, came out.

The petition says that Paetongtarn has broken Thailand’s constitution and moral codes very badly. It says that what she said in the recording may have broken both the law and national security rules.

There have been claims of constitutional and ethical violations.
Paetongtarn allegedly called the commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region “on the other side” in one of the leaked audio clips. Such conduct is considered disrespectful to the Thai military and possibly a threat to national security.

General Sawat Tassana, the leader of the Senate’s Defense Committee, played a crucial role in initiating the lawsuit. Sawat said that Paetongtarn’s comments show bias and poor leadership, and she said that her actions were bad for the country’s interests and unity. He also led an effort among other senators to get her to step down.

The complaint asks the Constitutional Court to think about ending Paetongtarn’s term as prime minister under Article 170(1)(4) of the Thai Constitution, stating ethical rules were broken in Article 160(4) and (5). We have asked the NACC to investigate whether her actions constituted an abuse of power.

Concerns about national security
The Senate’s petition says Paetongtarn may have broken Section 157 of the Thai Criminal Code with his words. This section punishes government officials who don’t do their jobs or abuse their power, especially when it comes to national security. The letter says that if she seems to criticize the military to a foreign leader, it could be considered a threat to national security and unity.

The Defense Committee has also said that these kinds of comments could cause divisions in the military forces and give the impression that the Thai government is weak in the face of threats from other countries, which is a very serious charge in Thailand’s politically charged environment.

Call for Removal Right Away
The Defense Committee said, “The government cannot be led by a prime minister who seems to side with foreign interests over the integrity of our nation.”She needs to be removed right away to protect Thailand’s sovereignty, national security, and public trust.

The petition is the first official attempt to get rid of Paetongtarn as prime minister using the country’s law and constitutional systems since she took office.

The implications of the political situation and the next steps to take are unclear.
Paetongtarn, who is from the powerful Shinawatra political family, has not yet officially responded to the claims. Analysts say that if the court agrees to go ahead with the impeachment, the case could turn into a full-blown constitutional problem.

Legal experts say the Constitutional Court could take weeks to decide on the petition, and the NACC’s probe could happen at the same time. If the court finds Paetongtarn guilty of violating constitutional tasks or moral standards, they could fire him and prevent him from holding public office again.

The situation has significant political implications; some individuals are concerned that the petition could exacerbate Thailand’s political divide and hinder cooperation between the civilian government and the military.

Parties in the opposition and those who support the government are closely watching the proceedings because they know that the result could change the country’s politics again.