On Friday, Thailand's Parliament elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as the country's new prime minister. At 37, Paetongtarn is set to become Thailand's youngest leader and its second female prime minister, following her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra, who is currently in exile.
Paetongtarn, who leads the ruling Pheu Thai party but is not an elected lawmaker, was confirmed with 319 votes in favor, 145 against, and 27 abstentions. Parliament members took about an hour to cast their votes individually. As a sole nominee, she was not required to hold a parliamentary seat to be eligible for the role.
She will officially assume the position once she receives a royal endorsement, though the exact timing of this step has not been announced.
Following the Parliament vote, Paetongtarn Shinawatra received a warm reception and applause from her party members before delivering her first speech at the Pheu Thai party office in Bangkok. Expressing her excitement, she conveyed her gratitude, stating she felt "honored and happy" and thanked Parliament members for their support.
"I truly hope to inspire confidence and improve the opportunities and quality of life for the people," she said. "I am committed to doing my best to advance the country."
Her election comes just two days after the previous prime minister was removed by the Constitutional Court for an ethics violation.
Paetongtarn's father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a highly popular yet controversial figure, was ousted by a military coup in 2006. His enduring influence and popularity are seen as key factors behind Paetongtarn's political support. Thaksin is widely regarded as a de facto leader of the Pheu Thai party, which has been associated with him through various iterations.
Paetongtarn's political career began in 2021 when she was appointed to lead an advisory committee for the Pheu Thai party. She was later named the party leader and one of its prime ministerial candidates. During her campaign, she acknowledged her family connections but emphasized her independence. "I am always my dad's daughter, but I make my own decisions," she said.
Despite her strong party support, Paetongtarn faces challenges due to her father's significant political shadow. Petra Alderman, a political research fellow at the University of Birmingham, noted that while Paetongtarn enjoys substantial backing, her tenure will be affected by the influence of unelected bodies like the Election Commission of Thailand and the Constitutional Court, as well as potential military interference.
Paetongtarn's nomination followed the removal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted by the Constitutional Court for a serious ethical breach. This ruling came just a week after the court dissolved the progressive Move Forward party, which had won the previous general election but was prevented from forming a government. The Move Forward party has since rebranded as the People's Party.
Since 2001, Pheu Thai and its predecessor parties have won every national election, championing populist policies aimed at addressing economic issues and income inequality. However, they lost to the reformist Move Forward party in 2023 but were later able to form a government after Move Forward was blocked by the Senate, which was appointed by the military government that had previously ousted Pheu Thai.
Thaksin's return to Thailand last year was seen as part of a political deal to prevent the Move Forward party from taking power. The 2017 constitution, enacted under military rule, allowed the Senate to veto prime ministerial candidates, but this power expired in May. With new Senate members lacking the veto power, a prime ministerial candidate now requires only a majority from the lower house.
Napon Jatusripitak, a political science researcher at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, suggested that Paetongtarn’s direct connection to her father could help unify the coalition and reduce factionalism. "This creates a clear chain of command," he said. "Paetongtarn will have defined areas where she can act independently and others where her father’s influence will be decisive."
With the Move Forward party dissolved and its prime ministerial candidate banned from politics, Napon believes other major parties might engage in a "game of musical chairs" to secure the premiership, with an overarching aim to exclude reformists from power.
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