On Friday, August 16, it was announced that 37-year-old Patongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had become the head of the government of Thailand. She was elected by a majority vote of members of parliament.
Patongtarn Shinawatra became the youngest prime minister in Thailand’s history after a court removed Setthu Thaweesin from office last week.
Patongtarn is the youngest of three children of Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 but still wields enormous influence in the country. She is the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to become prime minister, and the second woman to hold the post.