Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a press conference at Government House in Bangkok on June 19, 2025. - Photo: EPA-EFE
BANGKOK: Thailand’s government teetered on the brink of collapse after a leaked audio recording of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra criticising the country’s military provoked the withdrawal of support from a key party in her ruling coalition amid growing calls for her resignation.
The exit of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which holds 69 seats in the 500-member lower house, leaves the Pheu Thai Party-led government controlling just 261 seats in parliament, as more parties in the coalition held urgent meetings on Thursday (June 19) to decide whether to join the exodus.
