On Friday, the Thai parliament passed a bill designating Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the nation’s next prime minister, elevating a second member of the most well-known and contentious political family in the kingdom to the position.
The poll took place two days after former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed from office by the country’s Constitutional Court in an unexpected ruling that sparked new worries about the erosion of democratic rights and potential political unrest in the kingdom.
The ruling alliance of Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party picked the 37-year-old as their single candidate to succeed Srettha.
Before she may formally assume office and form a Cabinet, King Maha Vajiralongkorn must still give her his approval.
After her aunt Yingluck, Paetongtarn will be the second female prime minister of Thailand and the youngest prime minister overall.
Prior to the national elections in May 2023, Paetongtarn, a political novice, was one of three contenders for prime minister for Pheu Thai.
Her unexpected pregnancy, which occurred just two weeks before the election, garnered international attention.
Her selection brings yet another twist to a protracted story that has upended Thailand’s already unstable political order.
The youngest child of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, is Paetongtarn.
One of the most powerful people in Thailand, Thaksin used economic and populist tactics to create a political machine that has ruled Thai politics for the last 20 years.
Thailand chooses its youngest prime minister in history.
On Friday, the Thai parliament passed a bill designating Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the nation’s next prime minister, elevating a second member of the most well-known and contentious political family in the kingdom to the position.
The poll took place two days after former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed from office by the country’s Constitutional Court in an unexpected ruling that sparked new worries about the erosion of democratic rights and potential political unrest in the kingdom.
The ruling alliance of Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party picked the 37-year-old as their single candidate to succeed Srettha. Before she may formally assume office and form a Cabinet, King Maha Vajiralongkorn must still give her his approval.
After her aunt Yingluck, Paetongtarn will be the second female prime minister of Thailand and the youngest prime minister overall. Prior to the national elections in May 2023, Paetongtarn, a political novice, was one of three contenders for prime minister for Pheu Thai.
Her unexpected pregnancy, which occurred just two weeks before the election, garnered international attention.
Her selection brings yet another twist to a protracted story that has upended Thailand’s already unstable political order.
The youngest child of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006, is Paetongtarn.
One of the most powerful people in Thailand, Thaksin used economic and populist tactics to create a political machine that has ruled Thai politics for the last 20 years.
