Thailand’s Prime Minister Patongtarn Shinawatra arrives at Government House ahead of the royal swearing-in ceremony for her cabinet in Bangkok, Thailand, September 6, 2024. Photo Credit: Reuters
Patongtarn ShinawatraThailand’s Prime Minister, the heir to Thailand’s most famous political dynasty, was sworn in as prime minister on Friday (September 6, 2024), ending a month of turmoil that saw her predecessor forced from office and the main opposition party dissolved.
Ms Patongtarn, the youngest daughter of controversial former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was sworn in behind closed doors with King Maha Vajiralongkorn at around 6:15 pm (1115 GMT) and officially became Thailand’s youngest prime minister.
38-year-old Yingluck Shinawatra is the third member of the Shinawatra political dynasty to lead the country in the last 23 years. Before her, this feat was achieved by her father and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
The king congratulated his new Cabinet in a speech broadcast on television news, saying: “I am confident that you will perform your duties with excellence.”
Ms Patongtarn replaces Sritha Thawisin of the Pheu Thai Party, who was surprisingly sacked by the kingdom’s Constitutional Court in mid-August for appointing a Cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.
She takes charge of Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, where political instability has stagnated growth and investment.
His 36-member Cabinet includes eight women, a record, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS.
Ms Patongtarn, a relative newcomer to politics, on Thursday (September 5, 2024) urged her party foes to give her a chance.
“Please be kind to me, please don’t sue me, I’m trying my best,” she told reporters.
The power struggle between Thaksin and the country’s conservative monarchist-military establishment has dominated Thai politics for decades.
Mr Thaksin, a 75-year-old telecoms billionaire and one-time Manchester City owner, is loved by millions of poor Thais for his social welfare policies in the early 2000s.
However, he has long been despised by the elite, who accuse him of corruption and wanting to destroy Thailand’s social order.
Parties affiliated with Mr Thaksin came first in every election from 2001 until last year, but his governments regularly fell because of court orders and military coups.
Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006 and his sister Yingluck was ousted in 2014, with both going into self-exile abroad.
Adverse circumstances
Thaksin’s critics have long accused him of wielding power even while out of the country, and Ms Patongtarn will be closely watched for signs of her influence.
“This is a headwind for Patongtarn, he has to prove himself that he has his own agenda, his own will … and that is very difficult,” said Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, an analyst at Chulalongkorn University. AFP,
Mr Thaksin returned from exile last year on the same day that Pheu Thai took over as prime minister under a coalition deal with his former opponents from pro-military parties, leading many to suspect they had struck a secret pact.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison on corruption and abuse of power charges dating back to his reign. His sentence was immediately commuted and he was pardoned last month without serving any jail time.
Along with the dismissal of Mr Shrestha, the Constitutional Court also dissolved the popular reformist Move Forward Party (MFP) last month.
The MFP came second in last year’s general election, beating Pheu Thai on promises to reduce military influence, break up powerful business monopolies and reform royal insult laws.
Published – September 07, 2024 11:18 am IST