The 37-year-old daughter (Paetongtarn Shinawatra) of billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra becomes the third family member to assume leadership of the nation.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra has made history as Thailand’s youngest prime minister following the parliamentary approval of her nomination by the ruling coalition of the Pheu Thai party. She takes over from Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted from his position by a ruling from the constitutional court on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old, referred to as Ung Ing, is the youngest offspring of billionaire tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra and becomes the third family member, following her father and aunt, to assume the highest office in the nation. Srettha’s ousting marks another episode in the ongoing conflict involving the military, pro-royalist factions, and populist parties associated with Thaksin, who transformed Thailand’s political landscape upon his election as prime minister in 2001. After being deposed in a military coup in 2006, he spent several years in exile, returning to Thailand only last year, coinciding with the formation of the Pheu Thai government. During a meeting on Thursday night, the ruling coalition selected Paetongtarn as Srettha’s successor, as none of the other 10 coalition parties proposed an alternative candidate. Pheu Thai and its allies command 314 seats in parliament, and Paetongtarn requires the support of over half of the current 493 lawmakers to secure the position of prime minister.
Thaksin Shinawatra stands as one of the most significant figures in Thailand’s political history. His economic and populist strategies allowed him to establish a political apparatus that has influenced the nation’s politics for over twenty years, even following his removal from power in a coup in 2006. His youngest daughter is set to become Thailand’s second female prime minister, following her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is Thaksin’s sister. During a press conference on Friday at her party’s headquarters in Bangkok, Paetongtarn expressed her gratitude to her supporters and conveyed her sense of “honor” regarding the decision. “I will strive to excel in this role,” she stated. As a political novice, Paetongtarn was among the three candidates for prime minister from the Pheu Thai party in the lead-up to the national elections in May of the previous year, gaining international attention when she gave birth just two weeks prior to the election. Her appointment introduces another chapter in a prolonged narrative that has significantly impacted Thailand’s already volatile political environment.
Challenges ahead for Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Prime Minister)
The recent dismissal of Srettha on Wednesday marks another setback for the Thaksin-supported Pheu Thai party, which has often clashed with Thailand’s conservative establishment—a small yet influential group comprising military, royalist, and business elites. Political factions aligned with Thaksin have faced difficulties in maintaining power, often being ousted through coups or judicial rulings. Paetongtarn’s aunt was ousted from her position prior to the military’s takeover in the 2014 coup, while her father spent over 15 years in self-imposed exile starting in 2006 to evade corruption allegations following the military’s overthrow of his administration. Her uncle, Somchai Wongsawat, served as prime minister for a brief period in 2008 before being dismissed by a court decision. As she leads an 11-member coalition in a volatile political landscape, Paetongtarn is tasked with addressing numerous challenges, including revitalizing Thailand’s stagnant economy and restoring Pheu Thai’s waning popularity. The party’s prominent digital wallet cash distribution initiative has encountered several delays, and it remains uncertain how much of Srettha’s economic agenda she will choose to pursue.
Paetongtarn previously managed the hotel division of her family’s business empire before transitioning into politics three years ago, although she has never held an elected position. During the 2023 elections, she was a prominent figure on the campaign trail as one of Pheu Thai’s candidates for prime minister, giving birth just two weeks prior to the election day. The reformist Move Forward Party (MFP) emerged with the highest number of seats in parliament but was prevented from establishing a government by the Senate, which was then appointed by the military and held veto power over prime ministerial appointments. Recently, the constitutional court voted to disband the MFP and impose a ten-year ban on its executive board members from participating in politics due to their commitment to amend stringent royal defamation laws.
Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon and the former owner of Manchester City Football Club, made his return to Thailand from exile in August of the previous year. He continues to wield significant influence over Thai politics, with many perceiving his ongoing impact on the Pheu Thai party—first through his sister Yingluck and now via his daughter. Thaksin’s notable return coincided with the Senate’s decision to appoint Srettha as the nation’s 30th prime minister. Analysts suggest that Thaksin may have negotiated a deal with the Thai establishment regarding his return and Srettha’s appointment, a claim he has refuted. In a remarkable shift to secure that vote, Pheu Thai allied with its former military adversaries, leading to the formation of a multi-party governing coalition. Meanwhile, the progressive Move Forward Party, which achieved a surprising electoral victory last year with its widely supported reform agenda, was barred from forming a government and relegated to the opposition.
Recently, the Constitutional Court accused Move Forward of “undermining the monarchy” and mandated its dissolution, significantly impacting the progressive movement and effectively disenfranchising 14 million citizens. The former members have since reformed the party under a different name. On Wednesday, the same court determined that Srettha violated ethical standards outlined in the constitution by appointing a lawyer—who had previously served time in prison and was associated with Thaksin—to the Cabinet. These two rulings have been widely interpreted by analysts as an instance of judicial overreach, delivering a discouraging message to advocates of substantial reform. “Given the recent decisions, Thailand can be regarded as semi-autocratic at best, as the votes of the populace seem to hold little significance. The conservative establishment possesses the authority to veto and manipulate outcomes to their advantage,” stated Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University. With a Shinawatra back in power, many young Thais are likely to feel increasingly disillusioned about the prospects for change within the political landscape of Thailand.
