August 18th 2024.
In a historic turn of events, the daughter of the polarizing former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been appointed as Thailand's new prime minister. This comes after she received a royal letter of endorsement on Sunday, just two days after being selected by Parliament in accordance with a court ruling that removed her predecessor from office.
Paetongtarn is following in the footsteps of her father and aunt, who have both previously held the position of prime minister but were later overthrown in coups and forced into exile. However, Thaksin recently returned to Thailand and is widely seen as the de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party, of which Paetongtarn is a member.
In a ceremony at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Paetongtarn was officially appointed as prime minister in the presence of senior members of the governing coalition and her father, who arrived together in the same car, holding hands and with beaming smiles. In her acceptance speech, Paetongtarn expressed her gratitude to the king, the Thai people, and lawmakers, and promised to lead with an open mind, creating a space for all Thais to dream, create, and shape their own future.
Paetongtarn's appointment comes after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from office by the Constitutional Court for appointing a Cabinet minister who had been jailed for contempt of court. This was seen as a serious ethical breach and led to his ousting after less than a year in office. At just 37 years old, Paetongtarn is not only Thailand's second female prime minister but also the country's youngest leader.
The Pheu Thai Party has a history of being affiliated with Thaksin, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2006. This has sparked political divisions between a predominantly poor, rural majority in the north who support Thaksin and the urban elite and military who oppose him. Despite this, Thaksin's affiliated parties have consistently won the most seats in national elections until 2023, when they were defeated by the progressive Move Forward Party.
In a move that surprised many, the Pheu Thai Party was able to form a government by partnering with former rivals after the Move Forward Party was blocked by the military-appointed Senate. This was widely seen as a political compromise with the conservative establishment to prevent the progressive party from taking power.
In a twist of fate, Thaksin returned from exile on the same day that he was granted a royal pardon on the occasion of the king's birthday. This means that Thaksin is now free ahead of his original parole schedule, but he is still facing charges for defaming the monarchy. This has been viewed by some as a warning from his opponents to tone down his political activities.
Since his release, Thaksin has been highly active, traveling the country and making public appearances. It remains to be seen how his presence will impact Paetongtarn's leadership as she takes on the challenging role of leading Thailand through its political and social tensions.
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