Thailand’s parliament has elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a political newcomer, as the country’s youngest prime minister. The 37-year-old daughter of influential politician Thaksin Shinawatra was voted into office just a day after being thrust into the spotlight amid ongoing power struggles between Thailand’s political elites.
Paetongtarn, who has never served in government, won nearly two-thirds of the house vote with 319 votes. She will be Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the position, following in the footsteps of her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra and her father Thaksin, one of the country’s most divisive political figures. Although she was not present in parliament for the vote, she followed the proceedings from her party’s headquarters.
Paetongtarn’s election comes at a challenging time. The economy is struggling, and her party, Pheu Thai, is losing popularity, particularly for failing to implement its key policy of a 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion) cash handout program. Additionally, she faces a politically hostile environment. Just days earlier, the court dismissed her ally Srettha Thavisin as prime minister, less than a year after he took office. This serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead for Paetongtarn, with Thailand caught in a cycle of political instability, coups, and court rulings that have frequently disrupted governments.
The Shinawatra family and their business allies have often been at the center of these crises, facing opposition from powerful conservative forces, including old money families and royalist generals. Recently, the court dissolved the anti-establishment Move Forward Party, which won the 2023 election, for its campaign to amend laws protecting the monarchy. This dissolution further indicates a breakdown in the fragile truce between Thaksin and his rivals, which had allowed his return from 15 years of exile and helped his ally Srettha to become prime minister.
Paetongtarn’s rise to power at such a critical moment has surprised many, who expected Thaksin to delay her political ascent to protect her from the same fate that led to the downfall of her father and aunt, both of whom fled abroad after their governments were ousted by the military.
