In a landmark moment in Thailand politics, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected as the country’s 31st Prime Minister during a special session of the House of Representatives on Friday.
The leader of Pheu Thai will become the third member of the Shinawatra family to lead the country, following in the footsteps of her father, Thaksin, and her aunt, Yingluck.
At 37, Paetongtarn is the youngest child of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his ex-wife, Khunying Potjaman Damapong, and will be the country’s youngest leader.
The House Speaker is expected to put forward her name for royal endorsement
Paetongtarn assumed the position of chair of Pheu Thai’s advisory committee on participation and innovation on October 28, 2021. On March 20, 2022, she took on the leadership of the “Pheu Thai Family” project.
During the 2023 general election, she was selected as one of Pheu Thai’s three prime minister candidates. Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from office by court order on Wednesday, was the other nominee.