The Pheu Thai party has announced that it will nominate its leader, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as its candidate for prime minister, to succeed Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday.
Paetongtarn, 37, the youngest daughter of paroled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected as the Pheu Thai leader in October last year.
If she is elected by parliament to be the new prime minister, during a special session tomorrow, she would become the 31st and youngest ever prime minister of Thailand. She would also become the second female to lead Thailand and the third Shinawatra family member to hold the position, following her father Thaksin, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
The political future of the mother of two appears assured, as the press conference announcing her nomination was attended by government coalition leaders, who took turns expressing their support for her candidacy.
Paetongtarn thanked the public and the coalition government parties for their support, adding, “We are confident that we will work together to help the country move past its economic problems and advance into the future.”
Initially, a meeting of government whips, held last night at Thaksin’s residence, agreed to nominate Chaikasem Nitisiri, 76, as their candidate. A meeting of Pheu Thai MPs today decided, however, to nominate Paetongtarn instead.
Speaking at the same press conference, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said his Bhumjaithai Party fully supports Paetongtarn as the next prime minister.
“All the parties in the coalition government show their spirit in working together to ensure continuity in running the country,” said Anutin whose Bhumjaithai Party is the second biggest partner in the Pheu Thai-led coalition and its support for Paetongtarn is crucial.
Anutin’s endorsement of Paetongtarn put to rest speculation over his possible candidacy to succeed Srettha Thavisin as prime minister.
Paetongtarn, nicknamed “Ung-ing” by her family, was born in the United States on August 21st, 1986, as the third and youngest child of Thaksin and Potjaman Na Pombejra.
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science, sociology and anthropology from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science in 2008 and earned a master’s in international hotel management from the University of Surrey in England.
Before entering politics, Paetongtarn was a major shareholder of the property giant SC Asset Corporation and a director of the Thaicom Foundation. She also held shares in approximately 20 other companies across the real estate, telecom and media sectors.
Paetongtarn served as chief executive of Rende Development Co. Ltd., which manages properties owned by the Shinawatra family, including SC Park Hotel, the Alpine Golf & Sports Club and the Thames Valley Khao Yai Hotel.
She is married to commercial airline pilot Pidok Sooksawas, and they have two children.
As a member of Srettha’s government, Paetongtarn was recently appointed as deputy chair of two national committees, on soft power strategy and public health system development, both of which are chaired by the incumbent prime minister.
