Thailand’s parliament has appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of billionaire tycoon and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country’s new prime minister.
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At 37, she becomes the youngest person ever to hold the office and the second woman to serve as prime minister, following her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn’s selection on Friday, August 16 2024 comes just two days after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was dismissed by the constitutional court.
Both Thavisin and Paetongtarn are affiliated with the Pheu Thai Party, which, despite finishing second in the 2023 election, managed to form a ruling coalition.
In her first comments following the vote, Paetongtarn expressed a strong commitment to addressing Thailand’s economic challenges and steering clear of the political instability that has plagued previous administrations led by her party.
“I really hope that I can make people feel confident that we can build opportunities, improve the quality of life, and empower all Thais,” she told reporters, visibly moved and with trembling hands.
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Acknowledging the weight of her new role, Paetongtarn modestly stated, “I’m neither the best nor the most talented one in the room. But I always think I have a strong will and I have a good team… My team is strong, experienced, and determined. We share the same ideas, and that’s something I value highly.”
Her father Thaksin, aunt Yingluck, and her uncle Somchai Wongsawat, have all held the position but were later deposed by military coups or court rulings.
Her father, Thaksin, who remains an influential figure, called to encourage her, expressing his pride in witnessing her take on the role in his later years.
Educated at prestigious institutions in Thailand and the UK, Paetongtarn’s career includes time at the Shinawatra family’s Rende hotel group and a recent stint as the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, a position she has held since October 2023.
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