Thai PM claims she has coalition support after resignation calls

BANGKOK: Thailand’s prime minister, seeking to fend off calls for her resignation, said on Sunday all coalition partners have pledged support for her government, which she said would seek to maintain political stability to address threats to national security.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra has faced criticism for her perceived mishandling of a border row with Cambodia, including over a phone call with the country’s former leader, Hun Sen, the audio of which was leaked on Wednesday.

After the initial leak, Hun Sen released the full audio, in which Paetongtarn appeared to kowtow before the veteran Cambodian politician and to denigrate a senior Thai military commander - crossing red lines for her critics and some former allies.

A major coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, quit the ruling alliance soon after the leak, overshadowing Paetongtarn’s premiership and a parliamentary majority cobbled together by her Pheu Thai party.

“The country must move forward. Thailand must unite and push policies to solve problems for the people,” Paetongtarn, the daughter of influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, posted on X after a meeting with coalition partners, including the United Thai Nation party.

Prior to the post, the UTN had looked set to demand her resignation in return for backing the ruling coalition. The government and the country’s influential military share a common position, to back democratic principles and follow the provisions of the constitution, said the 38-year-old leader, a political neophyte who was appointed prime minister last year.

Activists, among them groups with a history of influential rallies against the Shinawatra administration, have scheduled a protest in Bangkok starting on June 28 to demand Paetongtarn’s resignation.

Cambodia´s prime minister said on Sunday the country would halt all fuel imports from neighbour Thailand, as tensions escalate over an ongoing border dispute. The nations have been at loggerheads since a Cambodian soldier was killed last month as troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle, where the borders of both countries and Laos meet.

“Starting from midnight tonight, all fuel and gas imports from Thailand will be halted,” Cambodian leader Hun Manet wrote on social media. He said energy companies would be able to “import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands” in the country.

Thailand has placed restrictions on several border checkpoints citing “national security”, and on Sunday Cambodia closed two crossings in retaliation. In statements issued on Sunday, Cambodia´s foreign ministry urged citizens not to travel to Thailand unnecessarily, while Thailand´s consular affairs department warned Thais in Cambodia to avoid “protest areas”.

The border spat has triggered political turmoil in Thailand after a phone call between leaders was leaked, prompting domestic criticism of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra´s conduct.

The ruling Thai party´s biggest coalition partner withdrew earlier this week as calls grew louder for her to step down and she was forced to apologise over her phone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.