Thailand’s parliament has appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country’s new prime minister, marking a historic moment as the 37-year-old becomes Thailand’s youngest leader and the second woman to hold the position.
Paetongtarn, the daughter of billionaire tycoon and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was selected just two days after the dismissal of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by a constitutional court ruling.
Both Paetongtarn and Srettha are members of the Pheu Thai Party, which finished second in the 2023 general election but successfully formed a ruling coalition.
In a statement following her appointment, Paetongtarn expressed her determination to lead the country forward. “We’ve gathered here today to show the people that we are determined, driven, and ready to push the country forward,” she declared at Pheu Thai’s headquarters on Thursday.
Paetongtarn secured 319 votes in favor and faced 145 votes against her candidacy. Her rise to the top office continues a family legacy, as she becomes the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to assume the role of prime minister within the past two decades. However, her predecessors, including her father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck, were all ousted from office by military coups or constitutional court rulings.
The new prime minister faces significant challenges ahead, including the task of reviving Thailand’s stalled economy and navigating the political landscape to avoid the military coups and judicial interventions that have previously toppled her party’s administrations.
Paetongtarn, who has a background in business and education from elite institutions in Thailand and the UK, joined Pheu Thai in 2021 and became the party leader in October 2023. Her appointment brings renewed energy to Thailand’s political scene, with hopes within Pheu Thai that she can rejuvenate the party’s fortunes.
Reflecting on the recent dismissal of Srettha, Paetongtarn expressed admiration for his work and described his removal as “unfortunate.” She takes the helm at a critical time, with Thailand’s political landscape remaining uncertain following the constitutional court’s recent ruling to dismiss Srettha, which is widely seen as a warning to Thaksin to temper his political ambitions.
Thaksin, who returned to Thailand in October after 15 years in exile, continues to cast a long shadow over Thai politics. His daughter’s rise to power is expected to further complicate the country’s volatile political environment, particularly as the Pheu Thai Party seeks to navigate the pressures from both its conservative opponents and military forces.
As Paetongtarn steps into the role of prime minister, the country looks to her leadership amid a backdrop of political upheaval and economic challenges. In a 2023 interview with the BBC, Paetongtarn emphasized the desire of the Thai people for “better politics, better solutions for the country than just coup d’états.” She now has the opportunity to fulfill that vision as she leads Thailand into a new chapter.
