Paetongtarn is the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who with his Pheu Thai party remains a hugely influential figure within Thai politics. Paetongtarn was Thailand’s youngest ever-prime minister. She was also the third person in her family and just the second woman to hold the post – after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn became prime minister one year ago after Thailand’s Constitutional Court ousted her predecessor Srettha Thavisin – also from the Pheu Thai – and banned Pita Limjaroenrat,
But who is Paetongtarn? And why has she been removed from office?
Let’s take a closer look
Growing up Shinawatra
Paetongtarn was born on August 21, 1986, in Bangkok.She was born into the Shinawatra clan – an ultra-rich family of Chinese descent – as the youngest of three children. Her nickname in Thailand is ‘Ung Ing’. Growing up, Paetongtarn attended Saint Joseph Convent School and the elite Mater Dei School – which counted Thai kings and other members of the
She then went to Chulalongkorn University, from which she obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science, sociology, and anthropology. After graduating in 2008, Paetongtarn did her graduate studies at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom – from which she got a master’s degree in international hotel management. Paetongtarn then joined the hotel arm of the family business – as CEO of Rende Development Co.’s hotel business
She was also a major shareholder in the
Entering politics
As Paetongtarn was growing up, her father Thaksin dove into politics. Paetongtarn is said to have accompanied her father on his first job in government. She was at the time eight years old. In 2006, Thaksin was ousted as prime minister in an army coup. Paetongtarn sought shelter in a safe house even as the military seized power from
“I was so scared. I was still in my uniform,” she told the media.
Thaksin then went into self-imposed exile for the next decade and a half. However, Thaksin and his Pheu Thai party remained a huge force in domestic politics, having won five elections and propping up nearly half a dozen prime ministers including his brother-in-law and sister. Most of these prime ministers backed by Thaksin have been ousted in military coups or by the court verdicts.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra remains influential in the country's politics. Reuters
Paetongtarn joined her father’s party in 2021 as a political novice. She was appointed chief of the Inclusion and Innovation Advisory Committee. She was chosen to lead the Pheu Thai party in October 2023. That same year, Paetongtarn was one of three candidates the party put forward for the post of Prime Minister.
“When I was eight-years-old, my father entered politics. Since that day, my life has also been intertwined with politics,” she said in a
Paetongtarn ran on ending thetenure of then Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who had aligned himself with the powerful military since the 2014 coup. This was when Paetongtarn, who campaigned while pregnant, gain popularity with the public. She would later give birth to a baby boy.
Then, controversy arose. Though the Move Forward party won the most seats in the House, it did not gain an outright majority. In the meantime, the Pheu Thai party did what it said it would never do – joined hands with the military backed Ruam Thai Sang
Meanwhile, Thaksin returned from abroad in what many speculated was a behind-the-scenes deal between the Pheu Thai and the military establishment. Though Thavisin of the Pheu Thai was elected prime minister, many voters felt betrayed.
Thavisin in July 2024 was removed after a ruling from the Thai Constitutional Court. The party then nominated Paetongtarn for the position. She was elected by the House and then received the nod from King Vajiralongkorn.
“I really hope that I can make the people feel confident that we can build the opportunities and improve the quality of life and empower all the Thai people,” Paetongtarn said at the time.
The odds were against Paetongtarn from the start with many experts saying that she would need to rely on her father to guide her through the intricacies of politics and governing in a coalition.
So, what happened?
Why has she been removed from office?
It all started with a border crisis – and a
Thailand has been in a decades long border dispute with its neighbour Cambodia. Much of it has to do with land near the border and ownership of temples. Though the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has twice ruled in favour of Cambodia, Thailand has refused to accept these verdicts. Cambodia, meanwhile refuses to engage on the subject.
The issue, which last fled up in 2011 exploded, earlier this year. This came after Cambodian troops and members of their family entered an ancient temple near the border
Paetongtarn Shinawatra with her father former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Reuters
This was followed by an exchange of gunfire in May – with both countries blaming each other for instigating the incident. This resulted in a troop build-up by both sides. In July, the border situation exploded yet again after clashes were witnessed along multiple locations that spanned five days.
However, it was a call between Paetongtarn and veteran Cambodian politician Hun Sen, which was leaked to the media, that began her fall. Paetongtarn in the phone call was heard criticising one of Thailand’s commanders and referred to the Thai military as “the opposite side”.
"He just want to look cool and saying things that are not useful to the nation, but in truth what we want is peace," she told Hun Sen through a translator. She also addressed Hun Sen, an old friend of her father
However, Hun Sen later claimed that he had ‘exposed the truth’ after an ‘unprecedented insult’ from Paetongtarn, who had called Cambodia’s use of social media to advance its claims as "unprofessional".
The development sparked a firestorm within Thai politics with
Then, today (August
"Due to a personal relationship that appeared aligned with Cambodia, the respondent was consistently willing to comply with or act in accordance with the wishes of the Cambodian side," the court said.
"The defendant has not
Paetongtarn called for unity among all parties to bring political stability to Thailand.
"All I wanted was to safeguard the lives of people, whether soldiers or civilians. I was determined to do all I can to protect their lives before the violent clashes," she told reporters.
It remains to be seen by Thai politics goes from here.
With inputs from agencies
