Thailand has a new premier

Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named prime minister of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, the youngest ever

“I am honored. I talked with my family and the people of Pheu Thai. And I decided it's time to do something for the country and the party, I will give my best to be able to move Thailand forward.” On Friday, August 16, a visibly excited Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivered her first words as Premier of Thailand. Minutes earlier, Parliament in Bangkok appointed her with 319 votes in favor, 145 against, and 27 abstentions. She takes over from Srettha Thavisin, her party colleague who had been removed from office a few days earlier by a Constitutional Court ruling triggered by the appointment as minister of a former lawyer who had previously been sentenced to six months in prison for corruption.

Born on August 21, 1986, Paetongtarn thus becomes with her just 38 years old the youngest-ever government leader for Southeast Asia's second largest economy. Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006 who returned last year from a long exile abroad, and granddaughter of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister and herself Premier from 2011 to 2014. As a child, she followed her father as he campaigned and played golf. She majored in political science at Chulalongkorn University, one of Thailand's top schools. She then studied international hotel management at the University of Surrey in England.

The new Thai government leader then returned home to help run the family business empire. She entered politics in 2021 and had never held a government position before her appointment last Aug. 16. During last year's election campaign, she gained popularity by holding rallies despite being pregnant. After the polls, she dialogued with Move Forward, the winning party that first remained in opposition and whose dissolution was later ordered by the Constitutional Court in early August.

Paetongtarn's real challenge will be to sustain the revitalization of the economy, including deciding on the fate of the digital wallet program that Srettha Thavisin had launched in recent months. “If we all stick together we can do it, I will give my all to further improve the lives of Thais,” promised the new, young Premier.