BANGKOK. A political newcomer was elected as Thailand’s youngest prime minister on Friday, just a day after stepping into the spotlight amidst a fierce power struggle among the nation’s elite. The 37-year-old daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, a polarizing figure in Thai politics, secured the top position with a decisive parliamentary vote, becoming the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the office.
Paetongtarn’s rapid ascent to the premiership follows the dismissal of her ally, Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted by a judiciary deeply intertwined in Thailand’s two-decade-long political unrest. Her victory, with 319 votes—nearly two-thirds of the house—comes at a crucial time for the Shinawatra dynasty, which saw its first electoral defeat in over 20 years last year and had to form a government in coalition with its long-time adversaries in the military.
In her first comments as prime minister-elect, Paetongtarn expressed her surprise and determination to lead the country through challenging times. “I talked to Srettha, my family, and people in my party and decided it was about time to do something for the country and the party,” she told reporters. “I hope I can do my best to make the country go forward. That’s what I’m trying to do. Today I’m honored and I feel very happy.”
Paetongtarn’s election is a significant gamble for the Pheu Thai Party, as she steps into a position fraught with challenges, including an economy in distress, growing competition from rival political parties, and declining popularity for Pheu Thai, which has yet to fulfill its promise of a 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion) cash handout program.
Despite her inexperience in government, Paetongtarn is now at the forefront of a high-stakes political drama. “The Shinawatras’ gambit here is risky,” said Nattabhorn Buamahakul, Managing Partner at Vero Advocacy. “It puts Thaksin’s daughter in the crosshairs and a vulnerable position.”
The recent dismissal of Srettha after less than a year in office is a stark reminder of the hostility Paetongtarn could face, with Thailand trapped in a cycle of coups and court rulings that have repeatedly dismantled political parties and toppled governments. The Shinawatra family, known for its mass appeal, has been a primary target of this turmoil, pitted against a powerful coalition of conservatives, old money elites, and royalist generals with deep connections in key institutions.
Paetongtarn’s election follows the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, which won the 2023 election, by the same court that ousted Srettha. The court’s decision to disband the anti-establishment party over its campaign to amend laws against insulting the monarchy has led to a regrouping of the opposition under the newly formed People’s Party, Pheu Thai’s biggest competitor.
The current upheaval signals a potential breakdown in the fragile truce between Thaksin and the establishment, which had allowed his return from 15 years of self-exile in 2023 and enabled Srettha’s brief tenure as prime minister. Thaksin’s decision to propel Paetongtarn into the political arena at such a critical time has surprised many analysts.
“This is a big bet for Thaksin. There is a possibility for her to fail, and that is a big risk for the entire Shinawatra dynasty,” said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist at Ubon Ratchathani University. “If she can’t bring the economy back and revive the party, it could be the end because the People’s Party is gaining more momentum after their dissolution.”
As Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares to take office, the stakes have never been higher for her, her party, and the legacy of the Shinawatra family.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
