Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has officially been endorsed as Thailand’s new Prime Minister. The endorsement came from King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday, just two days after Parliament elected her. This formality paves the way for the formation of a new cabinet in the coming weeks.
The official announcement was made by House of Representatives Secretary Apat Sukhanand during a ceremony held in Bangkok. Dressed in her official uniform, Paetongtarn knelt and paid respect to a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn before delivering a brief speech. In her speech, she expressed gratitude to the King and the representatives of the people for their support. She emphasized her commitment to fulfilling her duties as head of the executive branch, saying, “I will do my duty together with the legislators with an open heart. I will listen to all opinions so together we can take the country forward with stability.”
At 37, Paetongtarn becomes the youngest person to ever hold the position of Prime Minister in Thailand. Her ascension comes just days after her ally, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from the premiership by the Constitutional Court. This court has been a central figure in Thailand’s recurring political turmoil over the past two decades.
Paetongtarn’s victory in the parliamentary vote was decisive. She received 319 votes, representing almost two-thirds of the house, making her the second woman to hold the position of Prime Minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to assume this role. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, previously served as Prime Ministers.
Despite her political lineage, Paetongtarn faces significant challenges. The Thai economy is struggling, and the popularity of her Pheu Thai party has been declining. The party has yet to deliver on its key promise of a 500 billion baht ($14.46 billion) digital wallet cash handout program. Paetongtarn’s ability to navigate these challenges and deliver on her promises will be crucial to her success as Thailand’s new Prime Minister.
