Thailand’s Pheu Thai party chooses Paetongtarn Shinawatra as PM candidate

The vote comes a day after a court dismissed the incumbent premier Srettha Thavisin, in office for less than a year, in an ethics case

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Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra greets supporters with his youngest daughter Paetongtarn. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:46pm, 15 Aug 2024Updated: 12:20am, 16 Aug 2024

Thailand’s Pheu Thai party has chosen 37-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its candidate for prime minister, it announced on Thursday, a day after a court dismissed the incumbent premier in an ethics case.

“We decide to nominate Paetongtarn Shinawatra,” party secretary general Sorawong Thienthong told a press conference in Bangkok.

Lawmakers will vote on Friday in parliament – where Pheu Thai heads a governing coalition – on whether to approve Paetongtarn as prime minister.

“We are confident that the party and coalition parties will lead our country in helping with Thailand’s economic crisis,” Paetongtarn said after the announcement.

Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and former incumbent premier Srettha Thavisin. Photo: AFP

The vote comes after Thailand’s Constitutional Court sacked premier Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday after ruling he had breached regulations by appointing a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction, plunging the kingdom into fresh political uncertainty.