Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand by the Parliament.
At 37 years old, she becomes the youngest leader in the nation’s history, taking over during a period marked by significant political instability.
Her election follows the dismissal of her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, by the constitutional court, with the parliamentary vote held on Friday, August 8, 2024.
Paetongtarn’s background
The 37- Year old was a runner up for Prime minister post for the Pheu Thai Party during national elections last year though the Move Forward party, led by Mr. Pita, won substantially more votes, and it joined with Pheu Thai to put forward a new government.
Her father Thaksin Shinawatra, a Thai businessman and politician, was Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006 before he was formally indicted earlier this year for allegedly insulting the royal family and other charges linked to a 2015 media interview.
Paetongtarn’s aunt, Yingluck was Thailand’s first female prime minister before she was ousted in a 2014 coup and forced to flee the country.
Her uncle-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, was also removed as Prime Minister when the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of his People Power Party in 2008.
The decision by the court to install first time politician, Paetongharn as a legislator at a chaotic time, to lead a vast Thailand raises eyebrows of many analysts and members of the party who had expected a change after the downfall of her two predecessors, Thaksin and Yingluck.
The new leader faces a huge challenge up ahead pointing to the ousting of the former Prime Minister Srettha after serving for less than a year including numerous cycles of coups and simultaneous court rulings.