Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra began a cabinet reshuffle on Monday (June 23) as a political and judicial crisis sparked by a leaked phone call threatens to sink her government.
00:00Thailand's government announced on Monday it would complete a cabinet reshuffle this week and adopt a new way of working,
00:09as Prime Minister Paitong Tharn Shinawatra faces mounting pressure to stay in power following sharp criticism over her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
00:19Tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors have escalated.
00:23Cambodia has suspended all Thai fuel and gas imports, while Thailand has threatened to cut internet connectivity and limit electricity supplies in response.
00:34Deputy Prime Minister Phum Tham Wichai Chai sought to project unity after the Bhum Jai Thai Party, the second largest member of the ruling coalition, withdrew last week, leaving the government with a narrow parliamentary majority.
00:50At the center of the crisis is a leaked phone call between Paitong Tharn and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in which Paitong Tharn appeared deferential and criticized a senior Thai military commander.
01:02The full audio was released by Hun Sen after an initial excerpt circulated online, sparking widespread backlash in Thailand.
01:10Just hours after the audio surfaced, Bhum Jai Thai announced its departure from the coalition.
01:16On Monday, Paitong Tharn, daughter of controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, adopted a firmer stance against Cambodia, linking it to the rise of illegal online scam syndicates operating across the border.
01:31.
01:56Despite the internal rupture, the Futai Party, which leads the coalition, has so far held
02:01the remaining partners together.
02:03The upcoming cabinet reshuffle is expected to reallocate ministerial posts formerly held
02:09by Bhum Jai Thai.
02:10The coalition's fragile unity will be tested when parliament reconvenes next week, and
02:14on the streets, where anti-government groups are planning a protest on Saturday demanding
02:19Peitong Tharn's resignation.
02:21She also faces legal scrutiny, with a group of senators having petitioned both the Constitution
02:25Court and an anti-corruption agency to investigate her conduct related to the leaked call.
