Paetongtarn faces significant challenges ahead, particularly in revitalizing Thailand’s stagnant economy and navigating the political instability that has plagued the country, including military coups and judicial interventions that have previously ousted four Pheu Thai-led governments.
After the parliamentary vote on Friday, Paetongtarn expressed her hopes of instilling confidence in the Thai people, stating, “I really hope that I can make people feel confident that we can build opportunities and improve the quality of life, and empower all Thais.” Overwhelmed by the moment, she admitted that her hands were trembling with excitement. She also humbly acknowledged her limitations, saying, “I am neither the best nor the most talented one in the room,” but emphasized the strength, experience, and shared vision of her team.
Paetongtarn, who received 319 votes in favor and 145 against, becomes the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to assume the role of prime minister in the last two decades. The three previous Shinawatra prime ministers—her father Thaksin, her aunt Yingluck, and now-deposed Srettha Thavisin—were all removed from office by either military coups or court rulings. The same court dismissed Srettha on Wednesday for appointing a former lawyer, who had previously been jailed, to his cabinet.
In response to Srettha’s dismissal, Paetongtarn admitted feeling “confused” and “very sad.” However, after discussions with Srettha and her family, she decided it was time to step up for both her party and her country. She revealed that her father, Thaksin, had called to encourage her, saying he was glad to witness her take on the role in his later years.
Educated at elite institutions in Thailand and the UK, Paetongtarn has spent several years working with the Shinawatra family’s Rende hotel group, where her husband serves as deputy chief investment officer. She joined Pheu Thai in 2021 and was appointed party leader in October 2023.
Paetongtarn’s appointment is seen as injecting new energy into Thailand’s political leadership, and there is hope within Pheu Thai that she can help revive the party’s fortunes. Thaksin, who first became prime minister in 2001, had his second term abruptly cut short by a military coup in 2006. After spending 15 years in exile, he returned to Thailand last October, just hours before Srettha was elected prime minister. His return was part of a grand bargain with his old conservative adversaries, who are now part of the coalition government with Pheu Thai.
In June, Thaksin faced charges of insulting the monarchy, becoming the most prominent figure to be prosecuted under Thailand’s strict lese majeste law, often used against political dissidents. Srettha’s removal has been widely interpreted as a warning to Thaksin, who continues to wield significant influence within Pheu Thai, to curb his political ambitions.
Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, secured a landslide victory in the 2011 election but was later disqualified by the courts, leading to the ousting of her government by another coup. She currently lives in exile.
Paetongtarn led Pheu Thai’s campaign during last year’s election, which she managed while in the final stages of her pregnancy—a move that earned her widespread admiration. Reflecting on the campaign, she told the BBC, “I think after eight years the people want better politics, better solutions for the country than just coup d’etats. They are seeking policies that will help their lives.”
Despite winning the most seats, the election’s victor, Move Forward, was blocked from forming the government by the military-appointed senate, clearing the way for a Pheu Thai-led coalition with Srettha as prime minister. However, earlier this month, the constitutional court dissolved Move Forward and imposed a decade-long ban on 11 of its leaders from participating in politics.
