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Paetongtarn Shinawatra

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Paetongtarn Shinawatra
RThBh
แพทองธาร ชินวัตร
Paetongtarn in 2023
31st Prime Minister of Thailand
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 August 2024
MonarchVajiralongkorn
Deputy
See list
Preceded byPhumtham Wechayachai (acting)
Leader of the Pheu Thai Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 October 2023
Preceded byChusak Sirinil (acting)
Personal details
Born (1986-08-21) 21 August 1986 (age 38)
Bangkok, Thailand[citation needed]
Political partyPheu Thai
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​
Children2
Parents
RelativesShinawatra family
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businesswoman
SignatureCursive signature
NicknameUng Ing (อุ๊งอิ๊ง)

Paetongtarn Shinawatra RThBh (Thai: แพทองธาร ชินวัตร; RTGS: Phaethongthan Chinnawat; pronounced [pʰɛ̄ː.tʰɔ̄ːŋ.tʰāːn tɕʰīn.nā.wát]; born 21 August 1986) is a Thai politician and businesswoman who has served as 31st prime minister of Thailand since 16 August 2024 and as leader of the Pheu Thai Party since 2023. A member of the Shinawatra family, she is the youngest daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra (prime minister from 2001 to 2006) and a niece of Yingluck Shinawatra (prime minister from 2011 to 2014). Paetongtarn became the youngest prime minister of Thailand and is the second woman to hold the position, following her aunt.

Early life and education

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Paetongtarn was born on 21 August 1986[1] in Bangkok.[citation needed] She completed her junior secondary education at Saint Joseph Convent School and her upper secondary education at Mater Dei School. Paetongtarn studied at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University where she obtained a BA degree in political science in 2008, with a focus on sociology and anthropology. Paetongtarn then continued her studies in England, where she obtained an MSc degree in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey.[1]

Business career

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Paetongtarn is the largest shareholder of SC Asset Corporation and a director of the Thaicom Foundation, a benefactor of her family's wealth. As of 2022, she holds a total of 21 companies valued at approximately ฿68 billion (US$2 billion).[2]

Political career

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At a meeting of the Pheu Thai Party on 20 March 2022, Paetongtarn was elected as "Head of the Pheu Thai Family".[3] When speaking at the Pheu Thai Party's annual general meeting in April 2022, she said that she wanted to see regime change in Thailand and wanted to gain more experience before standing for the post of the country's prime minister.[4][5][6]

Paetongtarn became the leading prime minister-candidate in the opinion polls. In April 2023, she was officially nominated as one of the three prime minister-candidates of Pheu Thai Party for the general election, along with Srettha Thavisin and Chaikasem Nitisiri.[7]

After the general election in May 2023, the Pheu Thai Party secured the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives, following the Move Forward Party. She expressed disappointment that the party did not achieve first place as planned but stated that she was ready to work with the Move Forward Party and other parties willing to form a coalition with both parties.[8] However, after Pheu Thai Party withdrew from the memorandum of understanding to form a government with the Move Forward Party, on 9 August, she and Pheu Thai Party executives walked from the OAI Tower, where the party's headquarters are located, to the neighboring Thai Summit Tower to discuss with the Move Forward Party leaders about endorsing a candidate for the third round of prime ministerial voting.[9] The following day, it was reported that Paetongtarn informed the Move Forward Party leaders that Pheu Thai Party needed to bring the Palang Pracharath Party, led by General Prawit Wongsuwan, into the coalition government.[10] This led to the Move Forward Party deciding, six days later, not to support Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate. Following weeks of debate, Srettha was elected prime minister by the parliament of Thailand.[citation needed]

On 13 September 2023, during the first meeting of the 63rd Thai Cabinet, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered the establishment of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee and appointed Paetongtarn as the Deputy Chairperson.[11] Later, on 3 October, Srettha appointed her to two additional positions: Chairperson of the National Soft Power Development Committee[12] and a member of the Committee for the Organization of Celebrations for King Vajiralongkorn's 72nd Birthday Anniversary on 28 July 2024.[13] Subsequently, on 7 October, Srettha appointed her as the Deputy Chairperson of the National Health System Development Committee.[14]

On 27 October 2023, Paetongtarn was elected by the PTP's core members during a general assembly held at the party's head office to become the party's new leader, receiving 289 votes with one abstention.[15]

Prime minister

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Following the removal of Srettha as prime minister by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 14 August 2024, Paetongtarn was nominated by Pheu Thai to succeed him.[16][17] Her nomination was approved by the House of Representatives on 16 August after no alternatives were named by the other parties in the ruling coalition,[18][19] making her the youngest person and the second woman to become Prime Minister of Thailand.[20][21] She was officially sworn in on 18 August following an endorsement from King Vajiralongkorn,[22] followed by her cabinet on 6 September.[23]

On September 12, 2024, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the Cabinet presented their policy statement to Parliament, outlining ten priority policies for immediate implementation. These included comprehensive debt restructuring, measures to support Thai entrepreneurs, reductions in energy and utility costs, and efforts to integrate the informal and underground economies into the tax system. Additional priorities included economic stimulus through digital wallets, modernization of the agricultural sector, tourism promotion, anti-narcotics initiatives, crime prevention, and enhancements to social welfare, particularly for vulnerable groups, stateless individuals, and ethnic minorities.[24] Following the policy announcement, on 13 September 2024, Paetongtarn and relevant Cabinet members visited Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, to assess the flood situation in northern Thailand.[25]

In January 2025, Paetongtarn revealed that she had nearly been victimized by a scam utilizing a message in a voice sounding identical to another world leader whom she did not disclose in which the caller was asking for donations.[26]

In February 2025, Paethongtarn Shinawatra ordered the suspension of electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to five border areas in Myanmar as part of a multinational effort to dismantle transnational scams and human trafficking networks operating in the region. The decision was made in response to public demand for action against online scams and was agreed upon by Thailand's National Security Council and other government agencies. The affected scam operations involve false romantic schemes, fraudulent investment pitches, and illegal gambling. Revenue from electricity sales to these areas was estimated at 600 million baht ($17.8 million) annually.[27]

During her first official trip to China from 5-8 February 2025, Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized strengthening Thailand-China ties in sectors like electric vehicles, semiconductors, and data centers. She met President Xi Jinping to discuss various issues and attend the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin.[28] President Xi Jinping thanked Paetongtarn Shinawatra for Thailand's strong measures against scam networks targeting Chinese nationals. He specifically praised her government's recent decision to cut off electricity to three major crime hubs just across the Thai-Myanmar border.[29][30]

Political positions

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Paetongtarn during a speech after being elected leader of the Pheu Thai Party in 2023

Social issues

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Paetongtarn is socially liberal on many issues.[31] She supports LGBT rights and attended the Bangkok Pride Parade in 2023 along with the MFP's Pita Limjaroenrat. Additionally, she supports rewriting the constitution and scrapping military conscription. However, she opposes amending Thailand's lèse-majesté laws. Like her party, Paetongtarn supports stricter drug control and tough-on-crime measures.[32][33]

Although Paetongtarn and the PTP pledged not to form a government with military-linked parties such as United Thai Nation and Palang Pracharath, the PTP-led government consisted of both parties which led to widespread criticism.[34][35]

Economics

[edit]

In a 2023 interview, Paetongtarn called herself a "socially liberal capitalist". Paetongtarn stated that her party and Srettha Thavisin wants to focus on bread-and-butter issues and improving the economy. She supports "capitalism with empathy" along with gradually raising the minimum wage and implementing a ฿10,000 digital wallet scheme.[36]

In May 2024, Paetongtarn told party members at an event held at Pheu Thai headquarters "The law that keeps the Bank of Thailand (BoT) independent from the government ... is a problem and a significant obstacle in fixing economic problems", referencing the decade-high interest-rate of 2.50% which Srettha Thavisin believes was hurting small businesses and hurting government efforts to jumpstart an economy he says is in crisis. Paetongtarn said BoT monetary policy "refuses to understand and cooperate" and would hamper efforts to reduce high levels of debt.[37]

Controversies

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Alpine Golf Course shareholders

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Alpine Golf Course, located in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, was originally owned by Nueam Chamnarnchatsakda, who donated the land to Wat Thammikaram Worawihan [th] in 1969. In 1990, the land—designated as Sangha property (monastic land)—was sold and transferred to Alpine Real Estate Co., Ltd. and Alpine Golf and Sports Club Co., Ltd. The shareholders of these companies included Uraiwan Thienthong [th], wife of Sanoh Thienthong (Deputy Minister of the Interior at the time), and Chuchip Hansawat [th] (Deputy Minister of Commerce).[38]

In 1997, the land was sold to Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and Yongyuth Wichaidit, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. A subsequent order revoked the Land Department's cancellation of the title deed for the land due to its Sangha property status.[39] Later, in 2012, Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruled that Yongyuth had acted dishonestly in the case. In 2019, both the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal sentenced Yongyuth to two years in prison for corrupt conduct. Currently, the two companies are owned by Potjaman and her three children, including Paethongtarn Shinawatra.[40][41]

University entrance examination

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In March 2004, Paetongtarn Shinawatra passed Thailand's national university entrance exam and enrolled at Chulalongkorn University, one of the country's top universities in Thailand. However, questions arose over her admission, as her cumulative high school GPA was reportedly below 2.75 and her second-round entrance exam scores were significantly higher than her first-round results.[42][43] Three months later, Adisai Bodharamik [th], then-Minister of Education, issued a statement claiming no conclusive evidence of exam leaks. However, he ordered disciplinary action and reprimands against Professor Police Colonel Dr. Woradej Chandrasorn, Secretary-General of the Office of the Higher Education Commission, and Sasithorn Ahingsako, Director of the Central Testing Bureau, for their roles in opening exam envelopes prematurely.[44][45]

Following the Ministry of Education's review of the investigation, Woradej resigned from his position.[46] In August 2005, he was later appointed as an Assistant Minister of Education.[47]

Personal life

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Paetongtarn's nickname is Ung Ing (Thai: อุ๊งอิ๊ง),[48] which is sometimes shortened to Ing.[49] She is married to Pitaka Suksawat, a Thai businessman who is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer of Rende Development Co., Ltd., and a board member of the Thaicom Foundation.[50]

Pitak and Paetongtarn have one daughter, Thitara Suksawat,[51] who was born on 10 January 2021,[52] and one son, Phrutthasin Suksawat, who was born on 1 May 2023, ahead of the general election the same month.[53]

In her asset declaration for 2024, she revealed a collection of 217 luxury handbags and 75 luxury watches, with a total net worth of over $400m USD.[54]

Royal decorations

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References

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  55. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่สรรเสริญยิ่งดิเรกคุณาภรณ์ ประจำปี ๒๕๔๘, เล่ม ๑๒๒ ตอนที่ ๒๒ ข หน้า ๘, ๓ ธันวาคม ๒๕๔๘
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Thailand
2024–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Chusak Sirinil
Acting
 Leader of Pheu Thai Party
2023–present 		Incumbent
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