KUALA LUMPUR – Pheu Thai party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra has secured enough votes to become Thailand’s 31st prime minister.
The 37-year-old daughter of billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will succeed Srettha Thavisin in the role after the latter was dismissed by a court order.
Paetongtarn secured the parliamentary support required to replace Srettha less than 48 hours after he was ousted. Her prime ministership is now pending the formal appointment by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, according to AFP.
Despite never having experience serving as an MP or a minister, she is the youngest person to hold the position. She is also the second woman to lead the neighbouring country, after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Yesterday, members of Thailand’s Pheu Thai unanimously endorsed Paetongtarn, who is the party leader, as their candidate for the next prime minister, according to senior party officials.
She was the second candidate on Pheu Thai’s list, following Srettha. The other candidate being considered was Chaikasem Nitisiri.
Srettha was removed from office by the Constitutional Court after being found guilty of violating ethical standards over his appointment of Pichit Chuenban, a former lawyer associated with Thaksin’s family, who had a criminal conviction.
Bhumjaithai – the third-largest party in parliament – said it had “agreed to support a candidate” from Pheu Thai in today’s vote.
None of the 10 other parties in the coalition it leads put forward an alternative.
Yesterday, Thailand’s largest opposition group, the People’s Party, announced it would not support the ruling coalition’s prime ministerial candidate in today’s vote, according to party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as reported by Sputnik.
Natthaphong, quoted by the Thairath newspaper, said: “The People’s Party’s faction, which is the largest parliamentary faction, will continue to lead the parliamentary opposition and will not support the ruling coalition in the prime ministerial election at Friday’s parliamentary session.”
The People’s Party, which succeeded the progressive Move Forward Party following its dissolution by a constitutional court ruling, remains the largest faction in the lower House with 143 members, despite losing several lawmakers.
The court ruling also banned the former leaders of Move Forward from any political activity for 10 years. – August 16, 2024