Youngest Princess to become PM in Thailand, Shinawatra Dynasty returns to power

Jakarta –

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is officially the next prime minister of Thailand after receiving enough support from members of parliament.

Paetongtarn, who was supported by 319 MPs and rejected by 145 MPs on Friday (16/08), is the youngest prime minister to lead the country.

The appointment of the 37-year-old woman came two days after the Constitutional Court’s decision to impeach former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.

Paetongtarn is the youngest of three children born to Thai politician Thaksin Shinawatra. His father was overthrown in a coup in 2006, but he is still very influential in the country.

Paetongtarn is the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to become prime minister.

Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, became prime minister in 2008. Then, Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became prime minister from 2011 to 2014. Both Somchai and Yingluck were forced from their positions based on on court decisions.

Paetongtarn is also the second woman to lead Thailand after her aunt, Yingluck.

Paetongtarn, who has never held a government post before, will take on the task of reviving Thailand’s economy and avoiding the military coup and court intervention that dissolved four previous governments.

How is the background?

Thaksin first became prime minister in 2001. However, his second term ended abruptly after his government was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.

He returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile last October, a few hours before Srettha was elected prime minister.

This could come after he made an unexpected deal with his old enemies among the loyalists of the Kingdom of Thailand’s military, a controversial deal that was seen as a betrayal by many voters.

This agreement was made possible thanks to a common enemy; a popular young party, Move Forward, won the majority of votes after promising reform.

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That promise backfired. The Constitutional Court decided to dissolve the Move Forward Party because the party was determined to reform the country’s strict lese majeste laws.

The Constitutional Court also dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He was found to have breached the constitution by appointing a minister who had served a prison sentence, a decision many saw as political.

Srettha, a real estate tycoon, ruled the country for less than a year. He is the fourth Prime Minister of Thailand in 16 years to be dismissed based on the decision of the Constitutional Court.

Thaksin’s younger sister, Yingluck, won a landslide victory in the 2011 election. He now lives in exile.

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Paetongtarn led the Pheu Thai campaign in last year’s election, when she was pregnant.

“I think after eight years, people want better politics, a better solution for this country than just a coup,” he told the BBC at the time. “They are looking for policies that will help their lives.”

History of the Shinawatra Dynasty

1994 – Thaksin resigned as CEO of Shin Corporation and entered politics by joining the Palang Dharma Party. He had the opportunity to become the foreign minister. At that time, his youngest daughter was only eight years old.

1995 – Thaksin, heads the Palang Dharma Party and manages to get 23 party members to sit in parliament. Her youngest daughter, nine years old, helped distribute campaign leaflets in Bangkok.

1998 – Thaksin founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and planned to run for prime minister.

2001 – Thaksin became the 23rd Prime Minister of Thailand.

2005 – The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) organizes street protests to oust Thaksin.

2006 – Thaksin is expelled while attending the UN General Assembly in the United States.

2008 – Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, becomes interim prime minister for seven days.

2011 – Paetongtarn helps his aunt Yingluck campaign for the Thai Pheu Party by wearing shirts reading “Return Dad” and “Ask Dad to Come Home” after Thaksin fled​​​​ from legal proceedings in Thailand and living abroad for five years.

2014 – Yingluck is overthrown in a coup when Paetongtarn is 28 years old. He said “even though I’m not involved in politics, I’m still influenced.”

2019 – Paethongtarn married Pitak Suksawat at Rosewood Hotel, Hong Kong. The event, packed with celebrities and politicians, took place just days after the Constitutional Court dissolved the Thai Raksa Charter Party ahead of the general election.

28 October 2021 – Paetongtarn began his political career as an advisor to the Pheu Thai Party in the areas of participation and innovation. He announced on stage at the general convention of the Pheu Thai Party in Khon Kaen Province that “Father never forgot the good of the country of Thailand” and “I want to return to pay homage to Thailand again.” “

20 March 2022 – Thai Pheu Party adds a new chapter – Paetongtarn will be given the status of “Leader of the Pheu Thai Family” while campaigning in Udon Thani Province.

October 10, 2022 – Paetongtarn returns as a consultant to the Pheu Thai Party’s election operations center.

2023 – Paetongtarn announces his willingness to be a candidate for Prime Minister of the Pheu Thai Party if nominated.

2023 Paetongtarn becomes leader of the Thai Pheu Party.

August 2024 Paetongtarn to become prime minister of Thailand.

(eng/ita)