Thailand’s Political Turbulence Continues as Suriya Jungrungreangkit Takes Brief Helm as Acting PM
Bangkok – Thailand’s political landscape witnessed another dramatic turn as Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit assumed the role of acting prime minister on Wednesday, though his tenure is expected to last just one day before a pre-planned cabinet reshuffle installs a new leader.
The 70-year-old Suriya, a seasoned political figure known for his alignment with successive governments, stepped into the role following the Constitutional Court’s suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday. The court cited “sufficient cause to suspect” ethical breaches in her handling of a diplomatic dispute with Cambodia, a ruling that could leave the 38-year-old leader sidelined for months.
Suriya’s brief stewardship began with a symbolic appearance at a ceremony marking the 93rd anniversary of the Prime Minister’s Office—an institution he will oversee for less than 93 hours. His interim leadership, however, is set to end abruptly with Thursday’s swearing-in of Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who will take over as acting premier due to his higher-ranking deputy prime minister title in the reshuffled cabinet.
Suriya Jungrungreangkit set for single day as acting PM https://t.co/6lwbgPtOCj
— Endor7 (@endor7) July 2, 2025
Paetongtarn, daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had only assumed office last August. Despite her suspension, she retains a foothold in government as the newly appointed culture minister—a move analysts see as an attempt to preserve the Shinawatra family’s waning influence. The suspension follows a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, in which she referred to him as “uncle” and described a Thai military commander as her “opponent,” sparking fierce backlash.
The controversy has deepened Thailand’s political fractures. Conservative lawmakers, accusing Paetongtarn of undermining national sovereignty, withdrew from her coalition, triggering the ongoing cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, public discontent has surged, with protests erupting over the weekend as her approval ratings plummeted.
Adding to the turmoil, Thaksin Shinawatra—the patriarch of Thailand’s most influential political dynasty—faces a separate legal battle, with his trial on royal defamation charges entering its second day. A conviction could carry a 15-year prison sentence.
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As Thailand braces for another leadership transition, the Pheu Thai Party scrambles to stabilize a government grappling with diplomatic tensions, military distrust, and growing public dissent. The coming days will test whether the reshuffle can restore order—or if the kingdom’s political volatility will deepen further.
-Thailand News (TN)
