On June 19, at the Office of the Election Commission (EC), Mr. Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a member of the Palang Pracharath Party, submitted a petition requesting the EC to investigate Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for potentially violating Section 160(4) of the Constitution regarding integrity and honesty in office. He also questioned whether this conduct could be grounds for termination of her premiership under Section 170(4).
The complaint stems from the release of an audio clip, dated June 15, of a conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn and Samdech Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Senate and former Prime Minister. Mr. Ruangkrai stated that the PM had already acknowledged the clip's authenticity, making it a significant piece of evidence.
He pointed out that in the clip, the PM referenced Thai officials by name and position in a way that sparked public concern about her loyalty—whether she aligns more with domestic military personnel or foreign counterparts. The discussion about opening border checkpoints, Mr. Ruangkrai noted, should fall under the jurisdiction of national security agencies, not the prime minister. He argued that this behavior might reflect a breach of public trust and a conflict of interest, thereby potentially damaging the prestige of the office.
Mr. Ruangkrai added that, beyond this specific complaint, other avenues might be explored, such as referring the matter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). He also mentioned that further legal action could fall under Sections 116 and 119 of the Penal Code concerning national security. He emphasized that these matters could be raised directly with the Constitutional Court by political parties or senators. The Prime Minister herself has admitted this is the most difficult challenge she has faced in office and must be ready to clarify her actions. Supporting evidence will be submitted in due course.