In a historic moment for Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of influential political figure Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as the countrys youngest Prime Minister. Her victory in the parliamentary vote comes just days after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from office due to an ethics violation linked to the appointment of a minister with a criminal record. Paetongtarn secured the necessary majority with 51% of the votes in Parliament, marking a significant moment in Thai politics.At 37, Paetongtarn is set to become the second female Prime Minister of Thailand, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. As the youngest of Thaksin Shinawatras three children, she now leads the Pheu Thai Party, which managed to form a ruling coalition despite finishing second in the 2023 elections. This coalition was formed after the initial election winner was blocked by military-aligned lawmakers.Paetongtarns rise to power underscores the enduring influence of her family in Thai politics. Despite her relatively young age and lack of administrative experience, she is expected to draw on her familys deep political roots to navigate the challenges ahead.The challenges aheadPaetongtarn faces significant challenges as she steps into her new role. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, remains a deeply polarizing figure in Thailand, with his previous governments being toppled by military coups in 2006 and 2014. His return to Thailand last year, after years of exile, was seen as part of a political compromise to prevent the Move Forward Party, a progressive opposition group, from taking power.The Move Forward Party, which won the most votes in the recent general election, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court for proposing changes to a law that prohibits defamation of the royal family. This decision allowed Pheu Thai to form a government, but it also highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the country.Paetongtarns political journeyPaetongtarns political journey has been closely watched, given her familys prominence. Despite acknowledging her ties to her father, she has emphasized that she is not merely his proxy. Its not the shadow of my dad. I am my dads daughter, always and forever, but I have my own decisions, she stated during her campaign.Her leadership of the Pheu Thai Party began in October last year, as the party navigated complex political waters to form a government. Despite her lack of prior government experience, she has expressed a strong commitment to continuing her partys mission of improving the lives of the Thai people.Who is Paetongtarn ShinawatraPaetongtarn Shinawatra grew up amidst Thailands turbulent political landscape, with her father Thaksin playing a central role. Thaksin, who founded the Thai Rak Thai Party in 1998, became Prime Minister in 2001 and implemented policies that became known as Thaksinomics, aimed at improving healthcare, rural development, and farming subsidies.Paetongtarn attended Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok after her father was ousted in a military coup in 2006. Despite facing accusations of cheating during her studies, she went on to build a career and family, eventually stepping into a leadership role within the Pheu Thai Party.As she takes on the role of Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra will be under intense scrutiny. Political analysts, like Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University, have noted that she will likely need to rely heavily on her fathers guidance as she navigates the complex and often volatile world of Thai politics.
