Thai Government Faces Instability Following Prime Minister’s Leaked Call

Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party on Wednesday left Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s coalition government following the leak of the audio of a phone call between her and a former Cambodian leader, leaving the country’s ruling coalition in danger of collapsing, Reuters reported. 

The Bhumjaithai Party, the second largest member of the ruling alliance, said its move was due to the dishonor the June 15 phone call brought to the country. The call, between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, the former prime minister of Cambodia, who still holds considerable influence there, was posted to Hun Sen’s Facebook page.  

Thailand and Cambodia are currently involved in an escalating border dispute, which saw the two exchange fire in May at the cross-border area shared by Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos, Al Jazeera wrote. 

In the leaked audio, Paetongtarn said she was under domestic pressure and urged Hun Sen to opt for a peaceful resolution to the dispute. She told him not to listen to “the other side” in Thailand, including an outspoken Thai army general who oversees the army in the border area and is pushing for aggression. 

The mobilization of troops from both sides has sparked fears of confrontation, which, combined with the current political instability, has led to growing calls for Paetongtarn to step down: On Thursday, anti-government demonstrators demanding her resignation protested in front of her office. 

Paetongtarn publicly apologized at a press conference, saying that she was trying to “help stabilize the situation” and “never expected the conversation to be leaked,” according to Agence France-Presse. 

It’s uncertain for now if the other 10 members of her coalition will remain. If any leave, it’s likely to trigger snap elections less than a year since Paetongtarn took office.