By Maroosha Muzaffar
Thousands of protesters gathered in Bangkok demanding prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra鈥檚 resignation after a leaked phone call between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen sparked public outrage.
The rally, the largest since her party took power in 2023, was led by long-time opponents of the Shinawatra political dynasty, accusing her government of failing to uphold democratic principles.
Protesters claim Ms Paetongtarn is being influenced by Hun Sen and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Undeterred by the monsoon rain, thousands of demonstrators gathered at the Victory Monument in Bangkok on Saturday, blocking roads, waving Thai flags and holding placards with slogans like 鈥淧M is enemy of state鈥.
Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared that Ms Paetongtarn 鈥渟hould step aside because she is the problem鈥, according to BBC News.
Ms Paetongtarn, 38, is the daughter of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand last August after 15 years in exile. In office for just 10 months, she is the country鈥檚 second female prime minister, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
The campaign group 鈥 the United Power of the Land to Protect Sovereignty group 鈥 vowed to intensify its campaign against the prime minister after a surprisingly large crowd joined their rally at Bangkok鈥檚 Victory Monument on Saturday, The Bangkok Post reported.
The group has also rejected claims by the Pheu Thai Party and others that they are advocating for a military coup.
Besides demanding the prime minister鈥檚 immediate resignation, the group has called for all coalition parties to withdraw from the government. In a statement, the group accused the executive branch and parliament of failing to act 鈥渋n the interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy鈥, according to Reuters.
Veteran Thai protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul told supporters he does not want the political crisis to escalate into another military coup, but added he 鈥渨on鈥檛 object if the military does something鈥, The Bangkok Post reported.
Speaking to thousands at Bangkok鈥檚 Victory Monument on Saturday evening, he said: 鈥淒o not bring in those generals [to govern]. Let people like us in [the government],鈥 he said.
Mr Sondhi told the crowd: 鈥淚f we forget history, we are doomed to repeat it. Twenty years ago, I stood on a stage calling for Thaksin to step down. Now, two decades later, I鈥檓 forced to call for his daughter鈥檚 resignation.鈥
鈥淭his is not the last protest. If change must come from the streets again, then so be it.鈥
In the call with Hun Sen, Ms Paetongtarn appeared to blame Thailand鈥檚 military for escalating border tensions with Cambodia and used a conciliatory tone, including referring to Mr Hun Sen as 鈥渦ncle鈥.
The call came after a border dispute escalated into an armed clash on 28 May in a small piece of no man鈥檚 land claimed by both countries. The clash resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
The call, leaked after the former Cambodian leader reportedly distributed it to some 80 politicians, outraged nationalists in Thailand and led to the Bhumjaithai party, Ms Paetongtarn鈥檚 largest coalition partner, quitting the government and bringing it near collapse.
The Thai prime minister has publicly apologised for the leaked call and insisted that it was a negotiation tactic, but critics claim it undermined Thailand鈥檚 national sovereignty. The two countries share a thorny relationship, especially over border disputes.
鈥淚 would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader, which has caused public resentment,鈥 Ms Paetongtarn said earlier.
Hun Sen, on his part, had taken to Facebook to share the entire phone conversation 鈥渢o avoid any misunderstanding or misrepresentation in official matters鈥.
Ms Paetongtarn explained that the call to Hun Sen was made from her personal phone, and she had no knowledge it was being recorded or would be made public. She said her government remained fully committed to supporting the Thai military.
The Shinawatra family in Thailand and the Hun family in Cambodia have long-standing personal ties, reportedly referring to each other as 鈥済odbrothers鈥. Critics in Thailand see this closeness as compromising Thai interests, particularly in sensitive border negotiations.
Meanwhile, support for Ms Paetongtarn has dropped significantly, according to a new political survey conducted between 19 June and 25 June, The Nation Thailand reported. It polled 2,500 people across various demographics and regions.
Nonarit Bisonyabut, a senior researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said the sharp decline in support for Ms Paetongtarn and her government reflected a rising public appetite for new solutions to the country鈥檚 problems, potentially even paving the way for a general election to bring in alternative policy visions.
鈥淭he decline in the prime minister鈥檚 popularity reflects an accelerating loss of public confidence in the government and its past performance,鈥 Mr Nonarit said.
Kriangkrai Thiannukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said: 鈥淢ass protests are not a good sign. They directly undermine Thailand鈥檚 leverage in international negotiations. Next week, the government will enter retaliatory tariff talks with the United States, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Ministry officials. If political unrest makes headlines, it could affect Thailand鈥檚 credibility, weakening its negotiating position.鈥
On Tuesday, a constitutional court in Thailand will consider the petition for Ms Paetongtarn鈥檚 removal.