Paetongtarn Shinawatra becomes Thailand's youngest and second woman PM
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Paetongtarn is the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to assume the role of prime minister amid the country's political instability.
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Thailand's new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, known by her nickname "Ung Ing" and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, takes part in a news conference, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 16, 2024. (AFP)
Paetongtarn Shinawarta was appointed as Thailand's next prime minister on Friday after securing the required votes from lawmakers, making her the youngest person and second woman to assume the position.
The 37-year-old's appointment follows 24 hours of negotiations after a court ruling ousted former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for violating the constitution by appointing a minister who served jail time, making him the fourth prime minister to be removed by the Constitutional Court in 16 years.
“The country must move on," Paetongtarn said on Thursday after she was named Pheu Thai's candidate, expressing her respect for Srettha.
“I have confidence in Pheu Thai. I have confidence in all government coalition parties to bring our country out of the economic crisis,” she added.
“In the span of one week, the court has disfranchised more than 14 million voters by dissolving their party of choice, and unseated a democratically elected prime minister,” Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said, adding that the decision amounted to a judicial coup.
Paetongtarn was required to obtain 247 votes from the 493 members of parliament to assume the position of prime minister.
Who is Paetongtarn Shinawatra?
The young Pheu Thai party leader is the daughter of billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an influential figure who was exiled for 15 years after a 2006 coup that ousted him from power.
He returned to Thailand last year after making a deal with his former royalist military enemies, an agreement that is considered a betrayal by his voters.
Paetongtarn is the youngest of three children and the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to become the nation's prime minister.
Thaksin's brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, served as prime minister for a short period in 2008, while his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra assumed office from 2011 to 2014. Both Somchai and Yingluck were removed from office through court rulings.
The newly-elected prime minister has never served in the government but will take up the role during the country's political instability. Despite not being active in parliament, Paetongtarn played an important role in campaigning for the Pheu Thai's elections, enabling them to gain popularity through her nepotism. However, the political party secured the second place position.
