Phaungtern Shinawatra Elected as Youngest Prime Minister of Thailand

On Friday, August 16, the Thai parliament elected Phaungtern Shinawatra as the new Prime Minister of the country. At 37 years old, she is considered the youngest Prime Minister in Thai history and the daughter of prominent Thai politician Thaksin Shinawatra. Phaungtern assumed office just two days after the constitutional court of Thailand removed former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from his position. The Thai parliament was the scene of a struggle among opposition parties and figures on Thursday, drawing global attention and raising concerns about the continuation of political turmoil in the country. Phaungtern Shinawatra is the second female Prime Minister in Thai history and the third Prime Minister from the Shinawatra family. Yingluck Shinawatra, her aunt, and Thaksin Shinawatra, Phaungtern's father, were previous Prime Ministers and are considered controversial politicians in the country. In her first media statement as the elected Prime Minister, Phaungtern expressed that she was 'sad and confused' about the removal of the former Prime Minister. She told reporters that after consulting with Srettha Thavisin, her family, and party members, she decided to enter the political arena for the advancement of the country. Phaungtern expressed happiness about her election to the Prime Minister's office and stated that she is proud of the trust the parliament has placed in her. She received 319 votes, or nearly two-thirds of the votes in the Thai parliament, to become Prime Minister. Phaungtern Shinawatra has not held any government position before, and her entry into the political scene was arranged by her 75-year-old father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Economic challenges and the rising popularity of rival parties in parliament are among the major challenges facing the new Prime Minister of Thailand. In recent decades, Thailand has been the scene of coups, court rulings, and turmoil that have led to the dissolution of political parties, the fall of governments, and the ousting of Prime Ministers. The Shinawatra family and their business allies have repeatedly faced major crises during their time in office, resulting from political struggles among opposition parties, wealthy old families, and generals loyal to the royal family, with extensive connections in key institutions of the country.