Friday's vote came after former Prime Minister Prasitha Thavisin was ousted on Wednesday after less than a year in office, making her the third prime minister from the Pheu Thai (“For Thais”) party to be ousted.
Thai politics have been volatile over the past two decades, with coups, power struggles and widespread popular protests. Behind the scenes, the military is still seen as ruling with an iron fist after its 2014 coup. Just a week ago, the country’s Constitutional Court dissolved the main Khao Klai party, which won last year’s election on promises to reduce the power of the military and the royal house.
She campaigned while she was pregnant.
Paithongtarn Shinawatra grew up in Bangkok and later studied in the UK. During last year’s election campaign, she made headlines when she was eight months pregnant and gave birth just two weeks before election day.
The father was forced away
Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was forced from power in 2006 and went into exile to avoid a prison sentence for alleged corruption. The billionaire telecoms mogul returned to Thailand just over a year ago. He was arrested but released in February after six months in detention.
Now many observers are questioning how much influence Thaksin has on his daughter’s policies. The 37-year-old has previously claimed that, despite her political heritage, she stands on her own two feet and makes her own decisions.
“Unapologetic writer. Bacon enthusiast. Introvert. Evil troublemaker. Friend of animals everywhere.”
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