Thailand’s got a brand-new prime minister, and her name is Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The king himself gave her the royal thumbs-up two days after Parliament picked her, making it all official.
At just 37, she’s the youngest PM Thailand’s ever seen! She snagged the job after the previous guy, Srettha Thavisin, got the boot from the Constitutional Court—because Thailand’s politics are like a game of musical chairs, with a twist of drama.
Paetongtarn comes from a family that knows its way around politics—her dad, Thaksin Shinawatra, was PM too, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was Thailand’s first female PM. So, she’s no stranger to the political stage.
In her first speech as PM, she knelt in front of a portrait of the king, did the whole “I’ll do my best” routine, and promised to keep things stable. She’s got big plans—like fixing the economy, tackling illegal drugs, and promoting gender diversity. But let’s be real, the economy’s a hot mess, and people are still waiting on that $300 digital wallet scheme her party promised.
No Job for Dad
And just so everyone is clear, she’s not giving her dad a job in the government, though she might ask him for some tips now and then. Her party’s been through a lot—first election loss in over 20 years and all—but she’s got some solid support behind her.
So, buckle up, Thailand! It’s going to be an interesting ride with Paetongtarn at the wheel.
