Paetongtarn Shinawatra Becomes Thailand’s Youngest Prime Minister at 37

Bangkok: Paetongtarn Shinawatra was sworn in as Thailand’s new prime minister on Sunday, following a formal endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. At 37, she becomes the youngest person to hold the office in the country’s history.

Paetongtarn’s rise to the premiership came just two days after the House of Representatives elected her with nearly two-thirds of the vote. Her appointment follows the dismissal of Srettha Thavisin by the Constitutional Court, marking a significant shift in Thailand’s turbulent political landscape.

The daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn continues her family’s prominent legacy in Thai politics. As the second female prime minister and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, she has garnered strong support from senior party leaders and coalition partners.

During the royal endorsement ceremony, Paetongtarn knelt before a portrait of the king and delivered a brief speech, underscoring her commitment to the role. The ceremony, held in Bangkok, highlighted the continuity within the party, with her predecessor Srettha Thavisin also in attendance.