Thailand’s monarch has officially confirmed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the new prime minister, following her election by parliament two days earlier. At the age of 37, Paetongtarn is now the youngest person to hold the office of prime minister in Thailand’s history.
She secured the position just days after Srettha Thavisin was removed as prime minister by the Constitutional Court, an institution pivotal to Thailand’s two decades of political unrest.
Her appointment as Thailand’s new premier was formally confirmed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with House of Representatives Secretary Apat Sukhanand announcing it during a ceremony in Bangkok. Paetongtarn secured the position with nearly two-thirds of the votes from the House of Representatives. As the daughter of the controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s first female prime minister, she is well-acquainted with the political landscape.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is Thailand’s 31st prime minister, as well as its second female and youngest prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the office, after Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
“She hasn’t chosen the cabinet yet, but we presume from the people who are with her today that her cabinet will be much the same as it was under her predecessor,” said Cheng, adding that Srettha’s presence at the ceremony indicated the party’s intention to maintain a sense of continuity and avoid undermining him.
Paetongtarn said, “As head of the executive branch, 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.”
Paetongtarn takes the helm of a country grappling with economic difficulties and declining support for her party. At her inaugural press conference, the newly elected leader pledged to continue the policies of her predecessor, Srettha, an ally. These policies include significant economic stimulus and reform, addressing illegal drug issues, enhancing the universal healthcare system, and advancing gender diversity.
