Paetongtarn Shinawatra, known as Ing, has made history as Thailand’s youngest Prime Minister at 37. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the niece of Thailand’s first female Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Her rise to power follows the dismissal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin by a court for constitutional violations. Nominated by the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn has now become the second woman to hold the office.
In a statement after her nomination, Paetongtarn said, “The country has to move ahead.”
Born in Bangkok, Paetongtarn is a major shareholder in SC Asset Corporation and serves as a director at the Thaicom Foundation. She has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology from Chulalongkorn University and a master’s in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey.
Paetongtarn’s political career began in 2022 when she was elected as ‘Head of the Pheu Thai Family,’ positioning her as a prime ministerial candidate. Despite her limited political experience, her nomination has been significant, though not without controversy. She faced criticism for her remarks on the Bank of Thailand’s independence, which she described as an “obstacle” to addressing economic issues. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, noted, “She will be under scrutiny. She will be under a lot of pressure…She will have to rely on her father.”
The Shinawatra dynasty, beginning with Thaksin Shinawatra, has been a major force in Thai politics. Thaksin, a former police officer and telecommunications magnate, served as Prime Minister from 2001 until his ousting in a 2006 military coup. His political influence persisted through his sister, Yingluck, who served as Prime Minister from 2011 until the military coup in 2014. Paetongtarn’s appointment comes amidst ongoing political turbulence, with her party forming an alliance with the military to secure the premiership.
The Shinawatra family’s rise mirrors a broader trend in Southeast Asia, where political dynasties continue to consolidate power, as seen with the Marcoses and Aquinos in the Philippines, Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Indonesia, and Hun Manet in Cambodia.
