The 37-year-old heir of a powerful but controversial political dynasty has been elected Thailand’s youngest prime minister, after a shock court decision which plunged the kingdom into crisis.
Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra was picked by Thailand’s parliament on Friday, days after judges removed her predecessor Srettha Thavisin for breaching ethical standards.
Ms Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire who once owned Manchester City football club. He was ousted in a military coup in 2006 but has retained a strong presence behind the scenes.
His brother-in-law and sister have served as prime minister since he fled into exile, though both were ultimately ousted by a royalist-military establishment that despises him. Still, sensing a threat from a youthful progressive party, a murky deal with that very elite allowed Mr Thaksin to return after a 15-year exile last year.
Now, his daughter’s rise to the nation’s top job is a clear indication that Mr Thaksin has no intention of exiting the political fray.