Thailand Elects Youngest Prime Minister

Bangkok has made headlines as it elected its youngest-ever prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, just after the previous prime minister, Srettha, was removed from office.

This change in leadership follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which voted to let go of Srettha due to concerns over his choice of a controversial lawyer for his team. The court decided in a split vote of 6-3 to accept a removal request filed by 40 senators.

Srettha, who was part of the Pheu Thai Party, faced backlash for appointing Pichit Chuenban, a lawyer with a troubled legal history. Senators claimed that Srettha’s decisions didn’t meet ethical and moral standards, igniting speculation about their connections to Thaksin Shinawatra, the founder of the Pheu Thai party.

In contrast, Paetongtarn, 37, easily secured her position as prime minister, thanks to her party and allies holding a significant majority in parliament. She is the youngest child of billionaire Thaksin and follows in the political footsteps of both her father and sister, Yingluck, who also served as prime ministers.

Paetongtarn, nicknamed Ung-Ing, previously worked in the family’s hotel business and started her political career three years ago. Her candidacy comes at a challenging time, with the country facing economic issues and political opposition gaining momentum.

While campaigning, Paetongtarn promised to address public transportation costs, expand healthcare, and improve the daily wage for workers. Her task now is to unite a country that has experienced deep political divides.

Her appointment symbolizes a continued legacy of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics. Although Thaksin has been a controversial figure, his influence seems to remain strong even as political tides shift.