Thailand’s king has officially endorsed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a scion of the country’s most famed and divisive political dynasty, to become the country’s new prime minister. This appointment follows a series of twists and turns in Thai politics over the past week, during which the Constitutional Court ousted Srettha Thavisin, her predecessor from the same Pheu Thai party.
The country’s youngest ever prime minister at 37 years old, Paetongtarn is the daughter of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. She becomes Thailand’s second woman prime minister, after her aunt – and Thaksin’s sister – Yingluck Shinawatra. On Sunday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s approval was read to her by the secretary of the House of Representatives at Pheu Thai headquarters in the capital Bangkok.
Paetongtarn got down on her knees and paid homage to a portrait of the king, before giving a short speech thanking him. “This is the highest honor and pride in my life,” she said after the endorsement. “I, my family and the Pheu Thai party greatly appreciate His Majesty’s kindness. I am determined to perform my duties with my loyalty and honesty for the benefit of the nation and the people,” she added.
Paetongtarn’s Plans and Challenges
She is expected to appoint her 35-member cabinet and will lead the ministers in swearing an oath before the king. The new government will, she said, continue to push a soft-power initiative that taps the country’s historic and contemporary cultures, as well as tourism. Asked by reporters if her appointment would be seen as the return of a dynasty, Paetongtarn said she wouldn’t be influenced by others. She said she may ask her father for advice, but stressed she has her own ideas, adding that Thaksin will not take up any role in the administration.
Paetongtarn’s ascension to the prime minister’s post comes amidst a backdrop of political instability and a complex interplay of power dynamics in Thailand. Her family, the Shinawatras, has a history of both immense popularity and significant controversy. Thaksin’s populist economic policies and his political machine have dominated Thai politics for the past two decades, but his government was overthrown in a 2006 coup, and he has since been living in exile. Despite these challenges, the Pheu Thai party, founded by Thaksin, has remained a powerful force in Thai politics, often winning elections but facing obstacles in retaining power due to coups and court decisions.
The Shinawatra Legacy and Political Turbulence
Yingluck, Thaksin’s sister, also served as Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014, but her government was also overthrown by a military coup. Thaksin returned to Thailand from exile in August last year, only to be sentenced to prison on corruption charges. The political landscape in Thailand has been marked by a cycle of Thaksin-led parties winning elections and then facing setbacks, leading to a sense of political stagnation and a persistent power struggle between the Shinawatras and the conservative establishment in Thailand.
The Role of the Constitutional Court
Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that Srettha breached ethics rules by appointing to his cabinet a lawyer – and Thaksin aide – who had served prison time. Srettha’s dismissal was the latest blow to the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai, which has frequently run afoul of Thailand’s conservative establishment – a small but powerful clique of military, royalist and business elites. On Friday, the national parliament voted Paetongtarn into the role after she was nominated as the sole candidate to replace Srettha by Pheu Thai’s ruling coalition.
Paetongtarn's Path to Power
Paetongtarn was one of three prime ministerial candidates for the Pheu Thai party ahead of national elections in May, and made international headlines when she gave birth just two weeks before the vote. She has campaigned on a platform of economic revitalization and social reform, focusing on issues such as universal healthcare and cultural soft power. Her appointment has been met with mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a sign of the Shinawatras’ continued dominance in Thai politics, while others express concern about the potential for political instability and a return to the cycle of coups and court decisions that have characterized Thai politics in recent decades.
A New Era in Thai Politics?
Paetongtarn’s appointment as Prime Minister marks a new chapter in Thai politics. The daughter of a controversial figure, she faces the daunting task of navigating a complex political landscape and reconciling the interests of various factions. The question remains, will she be able to avoid the fate of her predecessors, or will she face similar challenges and obstacles? The future of Thai politics hangs in the balance as Paetongtarn takes the reins of power, and the world watches with keen interest to see how she tackles the complex challenges that lie ahead.
