Thailand elects Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn as new Prime Minister

Thailand’s parliament has elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of billionaire and former leader Thaksin, as prime minister.

At the age of 37, she will become the country’s youngest Prime Minister and the second woman in office, succeeding her aunt Yingluck.

His election comes two days after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was fired by the constitutional court. Both are from the Pheu Thai Party, which came second in the 2023 election but formed a ruling coalition.

Ms. Paetongtarn is the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to become prime minister in the past two decades.

Three others, including his father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck, were ousted by military coups or constitutional court rulings.

The circumstances of Ms Paetongtarn’s appointment are a stark reminder of how much the power of elected governments has diminished in Thailand.

On Thursday, Ms Paetongtarn said she liked Mr Srettha’s work and thought his dismissal was unfortunate.

“We are gathered here today to show the people that we are determined, driven and ready to move the country forward,” he told reporters on Thursday at his party’s headquarters, where he has been nominated as a candidate.

Educated at high schools in Thailand and university in the UK, she spent some years working for the Shinawatra family’s hotel group in Rende, where her husband served as deputy chief investment officer.

He joined Pheu Thai in 2021 and was appointed as the party leader in October 2023.