Shinawatra heiress takes office as PM, vows to boost economy

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's youngest-ever Prime Minister at 37, has officially taken office, vowing to revive the nation's sluggish economy. The daughter of controversial former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn is the third member of her family to assume the role, following her father and aunt, Yingluck, both of whom were ousted by military coups.

Paetongtarn accepted her appointment in a ceremony at a former pro-Thaksin TV station, calling for national unity to address the economic challenges lingering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Her Pheu Thai party, which she leads, forms a coalition government that includes pro-military groups traditionally opposed to her father.

Paetongtarn’s rise follows the Constitutional Court's removal of previous Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for ethics violations, marking the latest chapter in Thailand's long-standing political struggle between pro-Thaksin forces and the conservative elite.

Thaksin, who attended the ceremony, expressed confidence in his daughter.

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