On Friday, in a significant political development, Paetongtarn Shinawatra garnered the necessary majority of votes in Thailand’s House of Representatives to be appointed as the nation’s upcoming prime minister.
As a daughter of the prominent billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra and a prominent figure within the ruling Pheu Thai party, Paetongtarn’s parliamentary endorsement was widely anticipated. This follows the recent removal of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin from office following a Constitutional Court ruling, stating that Srettha had significantly violated ethical regulations due to his appointment of a lawyer with a controversial past over bribery attempt to the court as his cabinet.
Upon assuming office, Paetongtarn Shinawatra will make history as Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third leader from the influential Shinawatra family, following in the footsteps of her father and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. Notably, at the age of 37, she will also hold the distinction of being the youngest leader to helm the country, signifying a new chapter in Thailand’s political landscape under her leadership.
