Thailand’s youngest Prime Minister shares his first impression
Thailand’s newly elected Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has made his first public statements after being elected as the youngest leader in the country’s history. On August 16, she won with nearly 2/3 of the votes in the House of Representatives, marking a historic moment for Thai politics.
With 319 votes in favor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, officially took office. Her first reaction to the win was shared on Instagram, where she posted a photo of lunch—chicken rice—with the caption: “First meal after hearing the election results.” This post reflects her youthful and approachable demeanor.
Later that day, during a press conference at Pheu Thai Party headquarters in Bangkok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn expressed feelings of happiness and confusion after Mr. Srettha was fired on August 14. She explained the upheaval. what motivated her to act. “I spoke with Mr. Srettha, his family and party members and decided it was time to do something for the country and the Pheu Thai Party,” she said, emphasizing her commitment to promoting the country. developed country.
Paetongtarn also expressed gratitude to his support team. She added: “I never considered myself the best or the smartest, but I am lucky to have a great team… With good support, we can tackle anything.”
Challenges ahead
The new prime minister faces significant challenges in an unstable political environment. She will need to address a range of issues, including a struggling economy and stiff competition from rival parties. Notably, her Pheu Thai party is losing credibility due to unfulfilled promises, including a program to distribute nearly 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion) through digital wallets to stimulate Consumer spending is delayed.
Nattabhorn Buamahakul, consultant at Vero Advocacy, noted the current risk situation, which puts Paetongtarn in a vulnerable position. The recent dismissal of Srettha, who was in power for less than a year, highlights the difficulties Paetongtarn may face as Thailand grapples with a volatile political landscape.
In recent developments, the Constitutional Court dismissed Mr. Srettha and also dissolved the Move Forward Party. The court found that the party’s campaign to amend the lèse-majesté law threatened the constitutional monarchy. Move Forward, a credible opposition party and major rival to Pheu Thai, has since reformed under the new name of the People’s Party.
As Thailand navigates this turbulent political wave, all eyes will be on Prime Minister Paetongtarn to see how she will steer the country through these challenges.
