Monday, February 17, 2025
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Political neophyte Paetongtarn Shinawatra elected Thailand’s youngest Prime Minister amid political turmoil

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a political newcomer and daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected Thailand’s youngest prime minister on Friday. Her ascent comes amid a fierce power struggle between entrenched elites, just a day after she was thrust into the spotlight.

The 37-year-old Paetongtarn secured 51% of parliamentary votes, surpassing the necessary threshold to assume office. Her election follows the recent dismissal of her ally, Srettha Thavisin, by a judiciary entangled in Thailand’s decades-long cycle of political instability.

Paetongtarn now faces the daunting task of navigating a turbulent political landscape. The Pheu Thai Party, which she represents, has seen its popularity wane and has yet to deliver on its flagship 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion) cash handout program. The economy is struggling, and Paetongtarn’s political future hinges on her ability to address these pressing issues.

She is Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the office. Her predecessors include her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra and her father Thaksin, who remains a polarizing figure in Thai politics.

The political climate Paetongtarn inherits is fraught with hostility. The recent fall of Srettha after less than a year in office underscores the severe challenges she may face. Thailand has long been embroiled in a tumultuous cycle of coups, court rulings, and government overthrows, with the Shinawatras often at the center of the storm.

In a recent judicial action, the court not only dismissed Srettha but also dissolved the anti-establishment Move Forward Party, which had won the 2023 election. This move was justified on the grounds of a controversial campaign to amend a law against insulting the crown, which the court deemed a threat to the constitutional monarchy.

The upheaval in recent days suggests a breakdown in the fragile truce between Thaksin and his rivals in the establishment and military, which had previously facilitated Thaksin’s return from 15 years in self-imposed exile and enabled Srettha’s rise to power.

The decision to thrust Paetongtarn into the prime ministerial role at this critical juncture has surprised many analysts. Some had anticipated that Thaksin would avoid exposing Paetongtarn to the intense political battles that led to the downfall of both himself and his sister Yingluck, who fled the country to avoid imprisonment following military coups against their governments.

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