The 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, was chosen by Thai MPs on Friday to serve as prime minister. With this choice, the powerful Shinawatra family has added a third member to the national leadership. Currently holding the position of youngest prime minister in Thailand's constitutional monarchy history, Paetongtarn is just the second female prime minister, following her aunt.
Her appointment comes in the wake of the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who was dismissed due to his appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction. This ouster represents another chapter in the ongoing conflict between Thailand’s military, pro-royalist establishment, and populist parties linked to Paetongtarn’s family.
Paetongtarn was chosen by the Pheu Thai party as their candidate after Srettha’s removal. None of the other coalition parties proposed alternative candidates, and the third-largest party in parliament, Bhumjaithai, agreed to support Pheu Thai’s choice. Paetongtarn had been involved in her family's hotel business before transitioning into politics in late 2022, actively campaigning during the last general election.
Following a turbulent time that saw the progressive Move Forward Party's bid to create a government rejected, Pheu Thai and pro-military forces formed an alliance, culminating in the election of Paetongtarn. Srettha's brief period as prime minister prior to his removal was the outcome of this partnership.
The important concern now is how much power Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, would have over her government. Thaksin has dominated Thai politics for more than two decades with his populist ideals, which have earned him widespread favor in rural regions but also condemnation from conventional and elite circles. His recent return to Thailand makes his daughter's new role much more intriguing.
