The 37-year-old daughter of Thailand’s controversial billionaire ex-premier Thaksin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been formally appointed as the country’s new prime minister by the Thai king on Sunday.
Paetongtarn, who is now the youngest prime minister in the kingdom’s history, assumes office following the dismissal of the previous premier by the court and the disbandment of the main opposition party, leading to another phase of tumult in Thailand’s political landscape.
Although she is the third Shinawatra to hold the position of prime minister, Paetongtarn aims to avoid the fate of her father and aunt Yingluck, who were both ousted from power in military coups.
Following a ceremony at the former pro-Thaksin TV station, she received the official command from King Maha Vajiralongkorn to establish a government.
In her address after the ceremony, Paetongtarn urged all Thais to collaborate in rejuvenating the country’s economy, which has been slow to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As the head of the government, I am committed to working with parliament openly and embracing all ideas for the development of the country,” she stated.
Paetongtarn leads a coalition government under her Pheu Thai party, which was founded by her father and also includes pro-military groups that have historically opposed Thaksin.
Her appointment as the prime minister followed the Constitutional Court’s removal of the previous premier for violating ethics rules by appointing a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.
Thailand has been marked by a prolonged power struggle between the Thaksin-aligned parties and the conservative pro-military, pro-royalist elite for more than two decades.
Paetongtarn, who is relatively new to politics after managing the family’s hotel business, will be closely monitored for any influence from her father, who remains a highly influential but contentious figure in Thai politics.
– Controversial father –
Thaksin, renowned for introducing populist policies that garnered support from the rural population but also attracted criticism for corruption and authoritarianism, has had a significant impact on Thailand’s political landscape.
Despite facing charges of graft and abuse of power, Thaksin continues to be involved in national affairs and maintains a strong influence.
Following his recent royal pardon, Thaksin has been released from prison, further solidifying his presence in Thai politics.
tp-pdw/mtp
