Thai king appoints Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister
The Thai king formally appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as Thailand's new prime minister on Sunday.
Paetongtarn, now the country's youngest-ever prime minister, assumes office following the dismissal of the previous premier by a court, which also dissolved the main opposition party.
New PM Paetongtarn is the third member of the Shinawatra family to assume the role of prime minister, and she will aim to sidestep the misfortunes faced by her father and aunt Yingluck, both of whom were ousted from power through military coups.
Paetongtarn received an official written mandate from King Maha Vajiralongkorn to establish a government during a ceremony held at the headquarters of a former pro-Thaksin television station, shortly after 9:30 a.m. (0230 GMT).
Thaksin, now 75, was a notable presence at the event, standing in the front row with Paetongtarn's husband.
Leading a coalition government that includes her Pheu Thai party—the latest version of the political movement founded by her father in the early 2000s—Paetongtarn's administration also comprises some pro-military factions that have long been adversarial to Thaksin.
Her appointment follows the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former prime minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday, citing ethical violations due to his appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal record.
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