Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been suspended by the country’s Constitutional Court as it reviews a case seeking her removal. This has sparked questions about who will lead the government now and what this means for Thai politics. Here's a breakdown of what’s happening:

Why was the Prime Minister suspended?

The court acted on a petition filed by 36 senators, accusing the 38-year-old premier of dishonesty and violating ethical standards. The case involves a leaked phone conversation between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, which the senators claim broke constitutional rules.

Who is leading the government now?

With Paetongtarn temporarily out of office, Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has stepped in as the caretaker leader.

Suriya, 70, is a seasoned political figure who began his career in the 1990s and has served in various roles across multiple governments, including the forerunner of the current ruling Pheu Thai Party.

What’s next for the court case?

The court has ordered Paetongtarn to stop all official duties until it reaches a verdict. She has been given 15 days to respond to the accusations. After that, the court will continue with its hearings and decide the outcome.

Can she still be in the Cabinet?

Interestingly, yes. On the same day as the court's announcement, a cabinet reshuffle was made public. Paetongtarn was appointed as the Minister of Culture. Once she is officially sworn in on July 3, she will be allowed to attend cabinet meetings in that role, even though she is suspended as prime minister.

What about Parliament?

Thailand's parliament will reconvene on July 3. Before the suspension, the Bhumjaithai Party, a former ally, had warned it would bring a no-confidence motion against Paetongtarn and her cabinet.

However, because she is now suspended, the motion cannot go forward for now. Even if it did, it would need backing from the People’s Party, the main opposition group, which hasn’t declared its position yet.

Are there other investigations against her?

Yes. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is also looking into possible ethical breaches linked to the same leaked call with Hun Sen. This case, also based on the petition from the 36 senators, could end up in the Supreme Court and might even lead to a ban from politics, though no timeline has been given yet.

Are people protesting?

On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in Bangkok in what was the largest protest since the Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023.

Protest leaders are demanding that Paetongtarn resign immediately and have warned of more protests if she stays in office.

Many protest leaders have also played key roles in earlier movements that led to the downfall of governments run by Thaksin Shinawatra (her father) and Yingluck Shinawatra (her aunt).

Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister and still a powerful figure in Thai politics, is facing criminal charges under Thailand’s strict lese majeste law. The charges stem from a 2015 interview where he allegedly insulted the monarchy.

Thailand’s lese majeste laws carry up to 15 years in jail for insulting the king or royal family.

On top of that, the Supreme Court is reviewing whether Thaksin’s extended stay in a hospital instead of prison was legal. If the verdict goes against him, he could be sent to jail.