"Thai PM Shinawatra Faces Resignation Pressure Amid Mass Protests – Anti-Government Tensions Rise Over Border Dispute"

"Thai PM Shinawatra Faces Resignation Pressure Amid Mass Protests – Anti-Government Tensions Rise Over Border Dispute"
[Bangkok, June 28, 2025]

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, on Saturday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Public anger is mounting against her government over an ongoing border dispute with Cambodia and a deteriorating economic situation.

This marks the largest anti-government protest since the Pheu Thai Party came to power in 2023. At just 38 years old, Prime Minister Paetongtarn is under intense pressure to revive the faltering economy while also struggling to maintain a fragile governing coalition. A parliamentary no-confidence vote is also expected in the coming month.

Protest Led by Nationalist Alliance

Protesters waved national flags near Bangkok’s busy Victory Monument in a rally organized by the “United Force of the Land,” a coalition of nationalist activists. This same group has led movements against several governments backed by the Shinawatra family over the past two decades.

While previous protests didn’t directly topple any government, they paved the way for judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014.

Prime Minister’s Response: “No Retaliation, Only Peaceful Solutions”

On Saturday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn said she was not worried about the protests and had instructed law enforcement to ensure a peaceful environment.

She stated:
“People have the right to protest peacefully. I will not take any retaliatory action in response.”

However, the recent withdrawal of the Bhumjaithai Party from her ruling coalition has left Paetongtarn at risk of losing her parliamentary majority. A no-confidence vote could take place when parliament reconvenes next week.

Leaked Call and Judicial Inquiry

A recently leaked phone conversation revealed Paetongtarn attempting to appease former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen by criticizing a Thai army commander. Given the Thai military’s significant influence, her remarks have been seen as crossing a “red line.”

As a result of the leak, a group of senators has filed complaints against her with the Constitutional Court and the Anti-Corruption Commission. If the investigation concludes unfavorably, she could be removed from office.

Unprecedented Attack from Hun Sen

Hun Sen, once a close ally of the Shinawatra family, launched an unprecedented attack on Paetongtarn and her family in a one-hour televised speech on Friday, calling for regime change in Thailand.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the speech as “extraordinary” and stated that Thailand seeks to resolve the bilateral tension through diplomatic means.