Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of Thailand’s divisive political figure Thaksin Shinawatra, was endorsed as prime minister by the country’s king on Sunday following her election by parliament. This makes her the youngest prime minister in Thailand’s history, taking over after her ally Srettha Thavisin was removed from the position by the Constitutional Court. This move comes amidst Thailand’s ongoing political turmoil, with the judiciary playing a significant role in the country’s political landscape over the past two decades.
Paetongtarn received overwhelming support in the House vote on Friday, securing 319 out of nearly two-thirds of the house’s votes. She is Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the office, following in the footsteps of Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra. The formal approval by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was announced at a ceremony in Bangkok, where Paetongtarn paid homage to the king before expressing her gratitude to the people’s representatives for endorsing her.
In her first speech as prime minister, Paetongtarn expressed her commitment to working with the legislators and the people of Thailand with an open heart. She emphasized her willingness to listen to all opinions in order to move the country forward and maintain stability. Despite her lack of prior government experience, Paetongtarn faces multiple challenges, including an economic downturn and declining popularity of her Pheu Thai Party, which has yet to fulfill its promise of a 500 billion baht digital wallet cash handout program.
Following the royal endorsement, Paetongtarn embraced her father Thaksin and other family members, marking the beginning of her tenure as Thailand’s leader. With her family’s political legacy and her own determination to address the country’s pressing issues, Paetongtarn’s leadership will be closely watched as she navigates the complex political landscape and works towards addressing the economic challenges facing Thailand. As the youngest prime minister in the country’s history, she brings a fresh perspective and a commitment to engaging with the people to bring about positive change and progress for Thailand.
