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Thailand's prime minister faces a no-confidence vote over alleged influence by her father

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Thailand's prime minister faces a no-confidence vote over alleged influence by her father
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News

Thailand's prime minister faces a no-confidence vote over alleged influence by her father

2025-03-24 17:48 Last Updated At:17:50

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Monday faced a no-confidence motion in parliament as the opposition alleged she was being unduly influenced by her father, a former prime minister, and is mismanaging the country.

Paetongtarn, who took office last year, is expected to survive her first no-confidence vote on Wednesday with the backing of her ruling coalition that makes up the majority of the House of Representatives.

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House Speaker of Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha speaks during a no-confidence debate against Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

House Speaker of Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha speaks during a no-confidence debate against Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra react during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra react during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Leader of People's Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut speaks during a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Leader of People's Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut speaks during a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The head of the opposition in parliament, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, said Paetongtarn had failed to address many of the country’s chronic problems including the slumping economy, air pollution, crimes and corruption. He said her administration was serving the interests of her family and her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but highly controversial political figure.

Paetongtarn heads the Pheu Thai Party, the latest in a string of populist parties affiliated with Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, fled into exile and recently returned to Thailand. Thaksin has been at the heart of nearly two decades of deep political divisions pitting a mostly poor, rural majority that supported him against royalists, the military and their urban backers, who accuse him of threatening their status and that of the revered monarchy.

Natthapong is the leader of the People’s Party, a resurrection of the progressive, reformist Move Forward Party, which took the most seats in the general election in 2023 but failed to take power due to strong opposition from the conservative establishment, and was ordered dissolved.

Natthapong said the formation of the ruling coalition, which saw Pheu Thai partner with its former conservative rivals, was part of the political bargain to bring Thaksin home.

Paetongtarn was also accused by Prawit Wongsuwan, head of the Palang Pracharath Party, Pheu Thai’s former coalition partner, of falsely declaring her assets, which she denied.

House Speaker of Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha speaks during a no-confidence debate against Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

House Speaker of Parliament Wan Muhamad Noor Matha speaks during a no-confidence debate against Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra react during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra react during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Leader of People's Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut speaks during a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Leader of People's Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut speaks during a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers during a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, left, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra greet to lawmakers before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, center, answers questions from reporters on her arrival at the Parliament before a no-confidence debate against the prime minister in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Detroit Tigers placed left-handed reliever Brant Hurter on the 15-day injured list with lumbar spine inflammation.

The team announced the move, which was retroactive to May 23, prior to Sunday's split doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hurter left Friday night's game against the Orioles in the fifth inning after a pitch to Tyler O'Neill. He is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games in his third season.

Detroit recalled right-hander Ricky Vanasco from Triple-A Toledo. Vanasco is 0-1 with a 14.54 ERA in four games with the Tigers this season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers' Brant Hurter pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Tigers' Brant Hurter pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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