KUALA LUMPUR – Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn officially appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as Thailand’s new prime minister today.
In a ceremony held this morning at the Pheu Thai Party headquarters, House of Representatives secretary-general Arphat Sukanan announced the royal decree confirming Paetongtarn’s appointment after securing a majority vote in Parliament on August 16, according to AFP.
With this royal endorsement, Paetongtarn becomes the youngest person to become Thailand’s prime minister, and the second woman after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Former prime minister Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by the Constitutional Court after being found guilty of violating ethical standards.
The court ruled that his appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a Prime Minister’s Office minister was unlawful due to Pichit’s past conviction, which included a six-month jail term for contempt of court. – August 18, 2024