Thailand’s parliament has chosen Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, as the new prime minister. At 37, she is set to become the youngest person to hold the office and the second woman to do so, after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn’s appointment follows the recent dismissal of former PM Srettha Thavisin by a constitutional court. Both Srettha and Paetongtarn are from the Pheu Thai Party, which formed a coalition government despite coming second in the 2023 election.
She now faces the challenge of reviving Thailand’s struggling economy and steering clear of the political instability that has plagued her party, with previous Shinawatra-led governments being overthrown by coups or court rulings. Paetongtarn has expressed hope to improve the quality of life for Thais and emphasized her strong team’s support.
Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand last year after years in exile, has encouraged her to do her best. Paetongtarn has a background in business and has been with the Pheu Thai Party since 2021, becoming its leader in October 2023.
Her rise to power is seen as a bid to bring new energy to Thailand’s leadership, with hopes that she might help revive her party’s fortunes amid ongoing political turbulence. Her family’s history in Thai politics includes both triumphs and setbacks, with her father and aunt both having their terms cut short by coups or legal challenges.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6yj26vz8yo