In a major political development, Thailand's parliament has appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the nation's new prime minister. At 37, Shinawatra is set to become the youngest person to ever hold the office and only the second woman to do so, following her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn, the daughter of former prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, steps into the role just two days after the dismissal of former PM Srettha Thavisin by a constitutional court. Both Thavisin and Paetongtarn hail from the Pheu Thai Party, which, despite finishing second in the 2023 general election, managed to form a ruling coalition.
Her rise marks the fourth time a member of the Shinawatra family has assumed the role of prime minister in the past twenty years. The previous holders of the office from her family, including her father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck, were removed by military coups or court rulings.
On the day of her appointment, Paetongtarn expressed her respect for Srettha Thavisin’s contributions and described his ousting as unfortunate. "We’ve gathered here today to show the people that we are determined, driven, and ready to push the country forward," she stated at her party's headquarters, where she was nominated.
Educated at prestigious institutions in Thailand and the UK, Paetongtarn has worked with the family’s Rende hotel group, where her husband is the deputy chief investment officer. She joined the Pheu Thai Party in 2021 and was named its leader in October 2023.
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