On Friday, Thailand’s parliament elected Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country’s youngest prime minister, just a day after she emerged into the spotlight amid ongoing power struggles among the nation’s elite. At 37, Paetongtarn, a political newcomer, won the position with 319 votes, representing nearly two-thirds of the house.
Paetongtarn, the daughter of divisive political figure Thaksin Shinawatra, now faces a significant challenge. Her election comes shortly after the dismissal of her ally Srettha Thavisin as premier, and in the midst of a persistent power struggle that has marked Thailand’s political landscape for two decades.
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With no previous government experience, Paetongtarn will become Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the top position. Her appointment follows a tumultuous period for the family, including their first election defeat in over 20 years and a subsequent deal with the military to form a government.
As she steps into office, Paetongtarn will confront several immediate issues, including a struggling economy and dwindling popularity of her Pheu Thai Party. The party’s flagship cash handout program, worth 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion), remains unmet, adding to the pressure on her new administration.
Hostile Climate
Srettha’s fall after less than a year in office highlights the challenging and hostile environment that Paetongtarn might face. Thailand remains caught in a cycle of coups and judicial decisions that have frequently dissolved political parties and toppled governments and prime ministers.
The Shinawatra family and their business allies have been at the center of this ongoing crisis, which pits popular parties against a powerful coalition of conservatives, wealthy families, and royalist generals with strong ties to key institutions. This power struggle has intensified the political turmoil.
Recently, the court that dismissed Srettha over a cabinet appointment also dissolved the anti-establishment Move Forward Party, which had won the 2023 election. The party faced dissolution due to its campaign to amend a law against insulting the crown, which was deemed a threat to the constitutional monarchy. The party has since been reformed into a new opposition group.
The recent political upheaval signals a breakdown in the fragile truce between Thaksin and the establishment and military factions, which had allowed Thaksin’s dramatic return from self-exile in 2023 and Srettha’s ascent to premiership.
Analysts are surprised by the decision to place Paetongtarn in such a precarious situation, as it exposes her to the same intense conflicts that led to the downfalls of Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, both of whom fled abroad to escape imprisonment after military oustings.
