Paetongtarn Shinawatra: Thailand's Youngest PM Faces Immediate Challenges

Thailand has elected 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra as its youngest prime minister, thrusting her into power amid political turmoil. She becomes the second female and third Shinawatra family member to hold the position. Paetongtarn faces immediate economic challenges and a fragile political climate marked by coups and judicial upheavals.

Thailand's parliament elected the political newcomer Paetongtarn Shinawatra as its youngest prime minister on Friday. The election comes amid an ongoing power struggle among the country's elite, marking a significant turn in Thailand's political landscape. Paetongtarn, daughter of the controversial political figure Thaksin Shinawatra, won nearly two-thirds of the house vote.

At stake is not only Paetongtarn's political career but also the legacy of the billionaire Shinawatra family. Her family's political dominance saw its first significant defeat last year, necessitating an alliance with their military foes. Paetongtarn, inexperienced in governance, takes the helm as Thailand's second female prime minister, following her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra and her father Thaksin.

Paetongtarn's immediate challenges include reviving a floundering economy and restoring the popularity of her Pheu Thai Party, particularly with a crucial cash handout program pending. The swift downfall of her ally Srettha Thavisin serves as a stark reminder of the hostility she could face in a nation plagued by coups and court rulings. The political landscape remains volatile, with the recent dissolution of the Move Forward Party and the breakdown of a truce between Thaksin and his establishment rivals highlighting the ongoing instability.

(With inputs from agencies.)