Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been appointed as Thailand’s new prime minister, the youngest person to hold the office at 37 years old and also the second woman to lead the country.
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Paetongtarn Shinawatra has become Thailand’s youngest prime minister. She is also the second woman to hold the position following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra who served as PM from 2011 to 2014.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the fourth member of the influential Shinawatra family to become prime minister. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra served as PM from 2001 until his government was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.
Her aunt Yingluck and uncle Somchai Wongsawat also served as PMs with both being removed from office by court rulings or military intervention.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s rise to power follows the dismissal of former PM Srettha Thavisin by Thailand’s Constitutional Court.
Srettha, who served as prime minister for less than a year was found to have violated the constitution by appointing a cabinet minister with a criminal record.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra represents the Pheu Thai Party, which came second in the 2023 general election. Despite not winning the majority the party was able to form a ruling coalition and secure her position as the new prime minister.
Pheu Thai is associated with the Shinawatra family and has been a political force in Thailand for over two decades.
Thailand’s political environment has been influenced by military coups and judicial interventions particularly against administrations led by the Shinawatra family.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s father, Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and her aunt Yingluck was similarly removed by a court ruling in 2014.
Thaksin’s populist policies and strong political influence have dominated Thai politics for over two decades. Paetongtarn’s aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra was also a prime minister before being ousted in a military coup.
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Born on August 21, 1986, Paetongtarn grew up in Bangkok and later studied hotel management in Britain.
Before entering the political arena, she managed the hotel branch of her family’s business empire displaying a keen understanding of leadership and business management.
In 2022, she was introduced as one of the prime ministerial candidates for the Pheu Thai party. Despite being pregnant at the time, she was a constant presence during the election campaign.
Thailand’s politics has been by frequent military coups, court rulings and rivalries between pro-democracy forces and conservative, pro-military elites.
The Shinawatra family has often found itself at the center of this struggle. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup, Yingluck in 2014 and several other family allies have faced legal challenges and dismissals.
The Pheu Thai party was closely associated with the Shinawatra family. In the elections, the party faced a tough competition from the progressive Move Forward Party, which eventually won the most seats.
Due to political maneuvering and alliances, Pheu Thai managed to form a government with Paetongtarn emerging as the new prime minister after Srettha Thavisin’s dismissal.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected as Thailand’s prime minister following a vote in the House of Representatives, where she received 319 votes.
Her nomination was backed by the Pheu Thai party and its coalition partners. This development came shortly after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha Thavisin from office due to an ethics breach.
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