Shinawatras’ future at a perilous stage

Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s political future hangs in the balance as the Constitutional Court prepares to hand down aruling on the leaked phone call case next week.

- Chairith Yonpiam

The suspended prime minister appeared before the charter court judges on Thursday this week to defend herself in the high-profile case.

The accusation stems from her controversial phone conversation with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen, which was leaked just days before armed clashes erupted along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Meanwhile, her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, had reason to celebrate yesterday after the Criminal Court ruled in his favour in his lése majesté case.

But the Pheu Thai patriarch still faces another serious challenge — the so-called “14th floor saga’ which refers to his extended.hospitalisation despite the absence of serious illness, allegedly to avoid imprisonment.

Corrections Department and Police General Hospital officials are under fire for facilitating this arrangement.

The court has set Sept 9 for its ruling.

Most pundits remain pessimistic about the Shinawatras’ chances.

Could this mark the end of the family’s political dominance?

Ms Paetongtarn insists that the comments she made during the leaked phone call were made solely in the nation’s interest, denying any personal benefit.

Some of her remarks — such as her willingness to accommodate Hun Sen’s demands and her description of the Second Army Region commander as “the opposite side” — were, she maintained, mere negotiation techniques.

The seven-minute clip, however, sparked widespread anger, with many questioning her leadership and competence.