BANGKOK – Paetongtarn Shinawatra has made history by becoming Thailand’s second female and youngest-ever prime minister.
The 37-year-old political leader secured a decisive victory in parliament, winning 247 out of 493 votes, comfortably surpassing the required majority.
Paetongtarn is the third member of the influential Shinawatra family to rise to the office of prime minister, following in the footsteps of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Her victory comes after Thailand’s constitutional court removed the previous prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, from office.
Thavisin’s ousting was triggered by his controversial decision to appoint a convicted criminal as a minister in his cabinet, leading to a leadership crisis.
On Thursday, the Pheu Thai Party officially nominated Paetongtarn as their candidate for the premiership, and her win in the parliamentary vote was widely expected.
