Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has officially endorsed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country’s new prime minister, marking the rise of the youngest person to ever hold the position at 37 years old. Paetongtarn, a key figure in Thailand’s most influential and polarizing political family, succeeds Srettha Thavisin after he was ousted by the Constitutional Court.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s first female prime minister, Paetongtarn becomes the second woman to lead the nation. The king’s endorsement was read to her at the Pheu Thai party headquarters in Bangkok, where she paid homage to the monarch and expressed her deep gratitude.
Paetongtarn pledged to serve with loyalty and honesty, aiming to benefit the nation and its people. She is set to appoint a 35-member cabinet and will lead them in taking an oath before the king. Her government is expected to focus on initiatives that enhance Thailand’s cultural soft power and boost tourism.