Thailand’s parliament has appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of billionaire tycoon and former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country’s new prime minister.
According to BBC, at just 37 years old, she makes history as the youngest person to hold the office and becomes the second woman to serve as Thailand’s prime minister, following her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn’s selection comes in the wake of a significant political shakeup, with former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin being dismissed by Thailand’s constitutional court just two days earlier.
Both Paetongtarn and Srettha are prominent members of the Pheu Thai Party, which, despite finishing second in the 2023 general election, managed to form a ruling coalition.
Now at the helm, Paetongtarn faces the formidable challenge of steering Thailand’s stalled economy back on track while navigating the turbulent political waters that have seen four previous Shinawatra-led administrations ousted by either military coups or judicial rulings.
Her election saw her secure 319 votes in favour, with 145 votes against, making her the fourth member of her influential family to take on the role of prime minister in the last two decades.
The Shinawatra family has a storied history in Thai politics. Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father, first assumed the role of prime minister in 2001 but was forcibly removed from office by a military coup in 2006 during his second term.
His sister, Yingluck, who won the 2011 election by a landslide, was also later removed from office by the courts, followed by a military coup that ultimately ended her government.
Both Thaksin and Yingluck have spent significant time in exile due to the political turmoil surrounding their tenures.
Paetongtarn’s rise to power marks a new chapter for the Pheu Thai Party, and there is hope within the party that her leadership can revitalize its political standing.
Her background includes education at prestigious institutions in Thailand and the United Kingdom, as well as a role in her family’s business, the Rende hotel group, where her husband currently serves as deputy chief investment officer.
Her entry into politics began in 2021 when she joined Pheu Thai and swiftly climbed the ranks to become party leader by October 2023.
Paetongtarn’s appointment also arrives at a time when her father, Thaksin, who returned to Thailand in October after 15 years in exile, is facing legal challenges, including charges of insulting the monarchy under Thailand’s stringent lese majeste laws.
The recent dismissal of Srettha Thavisin is widely seen as a cautionary signal to Thaksin, who remains a powerful figure within Pheu Thai, to temper his political ambitions.
After Srettha’s dismissal, Paetongtarn expressed her admiration for his work, stating, “I admired Mr Srettha’s work and thought his dismissal was unfortunate.”
This comment underscored the complicated political landscape she now inherits as she takes on the responsibility of leading Thailand through these uncertain times.
The Shinawatra name continues to cast a long shadow over Thai politics, and Paetongtarn’s ability to navigate the challenges ahead will be closely watched, both by her supporters and those who have long sought to curtail her family’s influence.
