Thailand's prime minister has been dismissed from his position due to a scandal involving a leaked phone call with a powerful figure from Cambodia.

Thailand's prime minister has been dismissed from his position due to a scandal involving a leaked phone call with a powerful figure from Cambodia. 

Paetongtarn, who hails from the influential Shinawatra political family, became the youngest prime minister of the country in August 2024 and has only held the office for a year.

During the leaked conversation, which occurred on June 15 amid rising border tensions with Cambodia, Paetongtarn was heard referring to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as "uncle" and seemingly criticized her own military's conduct in the border conflicts that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.

Her remarks in the leaked audio, which both parties have confirmed as genuine, resonated deeply in Thailand. Nationalist sentiments were already heightened due to the border dispute, and her critics accused her of jeopardizing the nation's interests.

Weeks later, the two nations were involved in a five-day conflict that resulted in the deaths of at least 38 individuals, primarily civilians, and compelled hundreds of thousands to evacuate their residences.

Paetongtarn expressed her apologies to the Thai populace "who may feel uneasy or upset about this matter" and clarified that her statements were a negotiation strategy aimed at alleviating tensions.

On July 1, the court suspended Paetongtarn from her prime ministerial responsibilities, although she continued to serve in the Cabinet as the culture minister following a reshuffle.