Massive protests have broken out in Thailand following a leaked phone conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, in which Shinawatra referred to a Thai military commander as someone who “just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful.”

The leaked audio triggered widespread outrage, with thousands of demonstrators gathering at Bangkok’s Victory Monument, waving flags and chanting slogans like “PM is the enemy of the state.” Many accused the Prime Minister of undermining national dignity and demanded her immediate resignation.

In the phone call, Shinawatra referred to Hun Sen as “uncle” and reportedly used casual, dismissive language while discussing a Thai military officer involved in a recent border dispute. The controversy also led to the exit of a key coalition partner from the ruling Pheu Thai government.

Facing backlash, Shinawatra defended the conversation as a “negotiation technique” and issued an apology. She also affirmed the public’s right to peaceful protest before departing for a visit to flood-hit northern Thailand.

The protest was led by the United Force of the Land, a long-standing activist group critical of Shinawatra family-led governments. Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan declared, “The Prime Minister is the problem. She must step aside.”

The Constitutional Court is expected to decide on Tuesday whether it will consider a petition filed by senators demanding Shinawatra’s removal for alleged unprofessional conduct.

Hun Sen, meanwhile, claimed he had shared the audio with 80 politicians, one of whom leaked it. He later posted the full 17-minute recording on Facebook, detailing a tense dispute between Thailand and Cambodia following the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border clash.