Of course we have no idea yet what, if any, changes there will be under Suriya, how long he will be acting PM, or how he will handle the Thai-Cambodia border dispute.
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Suriya - Acting Prime Minister
Court suspends PM Paetongtarn from office in Hun Sen phone call case
Charter court accepts senators' petition for consideration; Suriya now acting PM
July 1, 2025
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending its consideration of the case against her involving a controversial phone conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
The nine Constitutional Court judges resolved unanimously to accept the senators’ petition against Ms Paetongtarn continuing as premier for consideration and temporarily suspended her from office by seven votes to two.
Ms Paetongtarn remains in the cabinet because in Monday’s royal approval of her new cabinet she was given the dual role of minister for culture. The royal command was published on Tuesday morning.
The petition, initiated by 36 senators, asked the court to investigate a leaked audio recording of a phone conversation between Ms Paetongtarn and Hun Sen, and sought her suspension pending the court's ruling.
In the conversation Ms Paetongtarn was heard making derogatory remarks about the commander of the 2nd Army Region, branding him an adversary, as well as showing a submissive tone towards Hun Sen, with her signalling a readiness to comply with the Cambodian strongman's demands.
The 2nd Army supervises the border with Cambodia from Sa Kaeo to Ubon Ratchathani that includes the four contested areas at the centre of the current dispute between the two countries.
She stands accused of lacking qualifications and integrity under Sections 160 (4) and (5) of the constitution. The complaint also alleges that she lacks honesty and engages in conduct that constitutes a grave breach of ethical standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit is acting prime minister.
The Constitutional Court said that the petition concerned Sections 82 and 170 of the constitution.
Section 170 referred to conditions for the termination of ministers’ terms and Section 82 is among the conditions.
Section 82 allows senators to ask the Constitutional Court to suspend and end the tenure of members of the parliament.
The Constitutional Court on Monday ordered Ms Paetongtarn to file a written clarification within 15 days.
After learning of the court’s order Ms Paetongtarn said she had phoned Hun Sen in a bid to prevent more clashes with Cambodia.
“I was thinking only about way to prevent clashes and casualties. I insist that I had no ill intentions,” she said.
"I apologise if the approach I took was unsatisfactory,” the suspended prime minister said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... -call-case
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Who is Suriya?
Suriya Juangroongruangkit born 10 December 1954) is a Thai politician who has served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Transport since April 2024 and September 2023 respectively. He served his first term as the Deputy Prime Minister from August 2005 to September 2006 and as the Minister of Transport from October 2002 to August 2005. He previously also served as the Minister of Industry for multiple times, Deputy Minister of Industry and Member of the House of Representatives. He is a member of the Pheu Thai Party and was one of the leaders of the Palang Pracharath Party as well as the Thai Rak Thai party.
Early life and career
Suriya Juangroongruangkit was born on 10 December 1954 in Bangkok to Thai Chinese ancestry. he attended Triam Udom Suksa School, Phaya Thai, and studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a bachelor of science in manufacturing engineering in 1978. After working for various car companies in Thailand, he was appointed transport minister on 3 October 2002. On 11 March 2005 he started his second term in office.
In 2003, Suriya paid $95,200 USD for a lucky license plate number for his son's car: 9999.
He is the uncle of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Political career
When Suriya was a member of the Thai Rak Thai, he served as the secretary-general of the party. As part of the Palang Pracharath party, he was an influential member of the Sam Mitr faction. Under Prime-minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, he served as the Minister of Industry.
At the beginning of 2023, there were rumours that both Suriya and Somsak Thepsuthin would defect from the Palang Pracharath party to Pheu Thai. They then informed the party's leader Prawit Wongsuwon of their intention to remain and run in the House of Representative elections. However, on 23 March 2023, Suriya and Somsak, along with Suirya's wife Anongwan joined the Pheu Thai party.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office by the Constitutional Court on 1 July 2025, and Suriya took over as Thailand's acting leader.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriya_Juangroongruangkit
