On 16 August, Thailand elected its youngest-ever prime minister, the 38-year-old Paetongtarn “Ing” Shinawatra. The daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a dominant and controversial figure in Thai politics, Paetongtarn has led the Pheu Thai (For Thais) party, Thailand’s second-largest party, since 2023.
Pundits may be tempted, at first glance, to frame Paetongtarn’s appointment as “fresh energy” and democratic progress. Such a perception is partly explained by a recent institutional change: The senators appointed in 2019 by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the governing body of the military junta that ruled from 2014 to 2023, completed their term in June 2024. According to the current 2017 Constitution, the new senate no longer have the right to vote for the prime minister.
However, it would be overly optimistic to think that Paetongtarn’s rise to power spells the end of the country’s political woes. Thailand’s politics continue to face headwinds that have persisted for many years.
