Shinawatra Patongtarn (Paetongtarn Shinawatra)

Shinawatra Patongtarn (Paetongtarn Shinawatra)

Patongtarn Shinawath was born on August 21, 1986.

Education

She studied political science, sociology and anthropology at Chulalongkorn University in her homeland and international hotel management at the University of Surrey in England.

Career

2024: Appointment as Prime Minister of Thailand

In mid-August 2024, Patongtarn Shinawat, daughter of Thailand's former billionaire leader Thaksin Shinawat, won the parliamentary vote to become the country's new prime minister.

Two days earlier, the Thai Constitutional Court dismissed the previous head of government, Settha Thavisin, for violating the code of ethics. He appointed a lawyer convicted of attempting to bribe a judge as minister.

37-year-old Patongtarn Shinawat became the youngest prime minister in the history of the country and the second woman in this position. In Thailand, she is better known by the nickname Ung Ing. Thais have a widespread practice of choosing an unofficial name, which must necessarily be short to facilitate communication.

She was able to win the House vote. It was supported by 319 lawmakers, 145 opposed, abstained - 27. Patongtarn Shinawath, who has never served in government, will take office at a time of political instability.

The new prime minister promised to do everything in her power to get Thailand out of the "economic crisis" with the support of the coalition. Her administration faces challenges of driving growth through looser fiscal policies and addressing the high cost of living and near-record household debt.

Shinawat is the largest shareholder in the Thai company SC Asset Corporation. She has two children (by August 2024).^[1]

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