Another Prime Minister, another ousting! Thailand’s political drama just hit a new peak as Paetongtarn Shinawatra is removed from office. What does this mean for the Shinawatra family’s enduring legacy and the nation’s notoriously turbulent political landscape?

Thailand’s political landscape has once again been shaken by the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, marking another significant chapter in her family’s long and often tumultuous engagement with the nation’s top leadership. This latest ousting continues a pattern of high-profile political instability that has plagued Thai politics for decades, with the Shinawatra dynasty frequently at its epicenter.

The court’s ruling stemmed from a controversial conversation Paetongtarn held earlier this year with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen. During this call, the Thai Prime Minister was found to have made remarks critical of a Thai Army commander and, more significantly, offered concessions to Hun Sen without adequately considering Thailand’s national security interests, according to reports from Thai news outlets. These actions were deemed to constitute serious ethics and integrity violations by the Constitutional Court.

Specifically, the court highlighted that Paetongtarn’s comments on the Thai Army commander “demonstrated the weakness of domestic Thai politics,” suggesting a lack of discretion and proper protocol for a leader in her position. Furthermore, the perceived concession to Hun Sen, allegedly made to bolster her own popularity, was a critical point of contention, directly clashing with the imperative to prioritize national security.

This removal is not an isolated incident in Thailand’s recent history of leadership changes. Just last year, Paetongtarn’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was also ousted by the Constitutional Court for an ethics violation, having served less than a year in office. Such rapid turnovers underscore a deeply entrenched cycle of political instability within the Southeast Asian nation’s governmental structures.

The Shinawatra family, in particular, has an extensive and often challenging history with the highest office. Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, both served as Prime Ministers before their tenures were dramatically cut short in 2006 and 2014, respectively, under similarly controversial circumstances. This repeated pattern solidifies the narrative of a dynasty repeatedly clashing with established legal and political institutions.

Following the court’s decision, political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich from Ubon Ratchathani University expressed strong reservations about the Shinawatras’ future prospects. Given the family’s consistent track record of legal and political challenges, Phakdeewanich believes it is now “impossible” for the Shinawatras to make a significant political comeback, suggesting a potential shift in the long-dominant family’s influence.

Adding to the family’s legal woes, Thaksin Shinawatra recently faced a royal defamation charge, although he received an extraordinary reprieve last week—a rare occurrence for such high-profile cases. However, his legal troubles are far from over. Thaksin, who returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile when his Pheu Thai party regained power, was supposed to serve an eight-year prison term but spent only six months in a hospital suite before receiving a royal pardon. An upcoming verdict could potentially send him back to jail if he is found to have not adequately served his original sentence before parole.

Despite these formal removals and legal battles, the Shinawatra family’s political footprint remains substantial. Thaksin, even without formal governmental power, continues to command significant support from his Pheu Thai party members. Any future government coalition in Thailand will “very likely” require Pheu Thai’s backing, with its 141 members in the 500-member lower chamber of Parliament, at least until the next election. This suggests a continued, albeit evolving, role for the family in shaping Thai politics.

Therefore, while a Shinawatra may no longer directly lead the government, and their former dominance might be a “thing of the past,” as analyst Napon notes, the family undeniably remains a key political player. Their influence, though perhaps less direct, will continue to resonate through their party’s parliamentary power and the enduring loyalty of their supporters, making them a force to be reckoned with in the intricate dynamics of Thai politics.