In a historic move, Thailand’s parliament has elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country’s new prime minister. Paetongtarn, who becomes the youngest person to hold the office, is also the second woman to do so, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Her selection comes just two days after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed by the constitutional court. Both leaders are members of the Pheu Thai Party, which, despite coming in second place in the 2023 elections, managed to form a ruling coalition. Paetongtarn received 319 endorsement votes against 145 opposing votes in the parliamentary session on Friday.
Paetongtarn is the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to ascend to Thailand’s highest office in the past two decades. Her predecessors, including her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck, were all ousted by military coups or court rulings. Her father, Thaksin, was first elected in 2001 but was deposed during his second term by a military coup in 2006. After spending 15 years in exile, Thaksin returned to Thailand in October last year under a political deal with his former conservative adversaries, who are now in coalition with Pheu Thai.
Paetongtarn’s appointment brings a new dynamic to Thailand’s leadership as she faces the daunting task of reviving the nation’s stalled economy while navigating the turbulent political landscape that has plagued her family. The Shinawatra dynasty has a history of being targeted by military interventions and court decisions, a pattern that continues with the recent dismissal of Srettha, which is widely seen as a warning to Thaksin to curb his political ambitions.
Educated at elite institutions in Thailand and the UK, Paetongtarn previously worked in her family’s Rende hotel group before joining Pheu Thai in 2021. She was appointed party leader in October 2023, bringing fresh energy and hope for reviving the party’s political fortunes.
The political challenges ahead are significant, particularly given the history of military coups and judicial interventions that have destabilised previous Shinawatra-led governments. Paetongtarn’s leadership will be crucial in determining whether the Shinawatra legacy can endure in Thailand’s volatile political environment.
Melissa Enoch
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