The daughter of former Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37 has been elected Thailand’s 31st prime minister on Friday. She received 319 votes of support, 145 votes against, and 27 abstentions.
Ms Paetongtarn received overwhelming approval in the House to become the country’s 31st prime minister without competition. She is the country’s youngest Prime Minister. Ms Paetongtarn succeeded Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday for an ethical infraction.
Following the House endorsement, the Pheu Thai leader thanked them for their support and promised to carry out her duties to the best of her ability. She declined to comment on government operations or cabinet seat allocations until she received royal approval.
She insisted that she could handle the pressures of the office despite criticism about her lack of experience, stating that while she does not consider herself the best in politics, her assets are her clear motivation and teamwork ability.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the position, following her father and aunt Yingluck. Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law, also temporarily held the position in 2008. Thaksin and his younger sister, Yingluck, fled to exile following military coups against their governments.
On Thursday, the coalition government’s parties agreed to support Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime ministerial candidate.
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