Billionaire’s Daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra Elected as Thailand’s Youngest PM
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected by Thailand’s parliament to become the country’s Prime Minister.
With 319 votes in the House of Representatives, the 37-year-old is set to become the youngest Prime Minister in the history of the country, less than two days after a court ruling removed Srettha Thavisin.
Although she still needs to be endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn before officially assuming office, her election further strengthens the grip of the powerful and influential Shinawatra family.
As the youngest daughter of Thaksin, who was Thailand’s Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006, Paetongtarn would become the second woman to hold the position after her aunt’s three-year reign ended in 2014 due to a Constitutional Court decision.
Speaking to reporters on Friday at her party headquarters in Bangkok, Paetongtarn said she’s “honored” by the parliament’s decision to elect her.
“I will do my best in this position,” she said.
Thailand’s Political Struggle: What Paetongtarn Inherited
Thailand’s political landscape has long been defined by a deep struggle between the populist forces led by the Shinawatra family and the country’s conservative establishment.
The recent election of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Prime Minister, just two days after Srettha Thavisin was removed by court order, marks the latest chapter in this ongoing battle.
Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecoms tycoon and former Prime Minister, has wielded significant influence in Thai politics despite his self-imposed exile since 2006.
Thaksin’s political network, notably through the Pheu Thai Party, a party he founded in September 2007, has consistently challenged Thailand’s military, royalist, and business elites. However, these efforts have often been thwarted by coups, court rulings, and other interventions by the conservative establishment.
Paetongtarn’s ascent to power comes with significant challenges. She inherits an economy in need of revival and must navigate the diminishing popularity of Pheu Thai amid internal and external pressures.
Moreover, her leadership symbolizes a continuation of the Shinawatra legacy, further intensifying the political polarization in Thailand.
