Paetongtarn Shinawatra: Thailand’s Youngest Prime Minister in a Political Power Shift

By Chetna Gill

Cover Image Attribute: The file photo of Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been chosen as Thailand’s new prime minister just two days after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was dismissed by the court. In a parliamentary vote, Paetongtarn, who leads the Pheu Thai Party (พรรคเพื่อไทย), received 319 votes from the House of Representatives สภาผู้แทนราษฎร), supported by all 11 parties in the current coalition government, while 145 members voted against her, and 27 abstained.
At 37, Paetongtarn will become Thailand's youngest prime minister and the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold the office, following her father, Thaksin, and her aunt, Yingluck. Her selection reinforces the enduring influence of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics, a legacy that began with Thaksin's landmark election win in 2001, though the family has remained a controversial and polarizing force.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s nomination came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, a former real estate executive from the Pheu Thai party, was unexpectedly removed from office by the Constitutional Court. The court ruled 5-4 to dismiss Srettha for an ethical violation related to the appointment of a cabinet official who had previously been convicted of bribing a court official. Srettha's ousting came less than a year into his term, creating a sudden vacancy in the country's leadership.
Parliament was then tasked with selecting a replacement from candidates previously nominated before the last election. Seven candidates were eligible, though Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party was excluded after a separate court ruling dissolved his party and banned him from politics for 10 years. Pheu Thai had initially considered nominating former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri, but by evening, the party had rallied behind Paetongtarn, confirming her as their official candidate.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, though new to politics, entered the political scene in 2021 after managing the hotel division of her family's business. She quickly became a prominent figure in the Pheu Thai party, taking a leading role in the party's campaign ahead of the May 2023 election, even while pregnant. Though she was one of three prime ministerial candidates for the party, it was ultimately Srettha Thavisin, another political newcomer, who was put forward at the time. Later in October, Paetongtarn solidified her position within the party by being elected as Pheu Thai's chairperson.
Her rise to power comes during a volatile period in Thai politics. The unexpected removal of Prime Minister Srettha and the dissolution of the Move Forward Party (พรรคก้าวไกล), which had been the largest in the House of Representatives, have sparked widespread criticism from international observers and human rights organizations. The political upheaval, along with Move Forward's disbandment, has heightened tensions, with critics accusing the establishment of using judicial rulings to manipulate the political landscape and silence dissenting voices.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the leader of the newly formed People’s Party (พรรคประชาชน), which emerged as Move Forward's successor, openly criticized the recent court rulings in a speech to the House. He condemned what he described as "lawfare tactics" employed by elites to subvert the will of the people, urging lawmakers to address the underlying influence of appointed officials on political outcomes. The dismissal of Srettha is widely viewed as part of a broader effort to maintain the dominance of Thailand's conservative royalist establishment, and it is seen as a reminder to Thaksin Shinawatra to honor the political arrangement made with the establishment, which allowed his return from self-exile in exchange for cooperation with conservative forces.
The political pact that allowed Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand aimed primarily at sidelining the Move Forward Party, which had garnered the most votes in the previous election with a reformist platform. The party sought to break up monopolies, end military conscription, and amend the lese-majeste law, which criminalizes criticism of the monarchy. However, it was blocked from forming a government by military-appointed senators and eventually dissolved, leaving its members in the opposition. The party's stance on lese-majeste reform provided the grounds for its dissolution, further illustrating the conservative establishment's determination to protect the status quo.
With Paetongtarn Shinawatra taking office, the political landscape is set to become even more complex. Critics of her father, Thaksin, will likely view her as a mere extension of his influence, raising concerns among conservative factions. Srettha's removal from office might have been driven by conservative unease over Thaksin's involvement, and Paetongtarn's rise is unlikely to ease these tensions, especially given her limited political experience. Her dependency on her father's support may strengthen perceptions of her as a proxy for Thaksin, subjecting her to increased scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the People's Party, which succeeded Move Forward, has rapidly gained popularity and seems poised to prevail in the next election, scheduled for 2027, when the Senate will no longer have the power to block its path to government. Despite Paetongtarn's potential to complete her current term, Thailand’s political instability, which has persisted for over two decades, shows little sign of resolution anytime soon.

IndraStra Global is now available on
Apple News, Google News, Feedly, Flipboard, and  WhatsApp Channel

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this insight piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IndraStra Global.

COPYRIGHT: This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

REPUBLISH: Republish our articles online or in print for free if you follow these guidelines. https://www.indrastra.com/p/republish-us.html