BANGKOK - Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of Thailand’s most polarizing political figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected as the country’s youngest prime minister on Friday. This move comes amid a turbulent political landscape defined by power struggles between the nation's warring elites.*

Paetongtarn, who has never served in government, won nearly two-thirds of the parliamentary vote, securing 319 votes in her favor. Her victory comes just two days after the dismissal of her ally, former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, by a judiciary that has played a central role in Thailand’s two decades of intermittent turmoil.

In her first remarks as prime minister, Paetongtarn expressed a mix of sadness and determination. "I talked to Srettha, my family, and people in my party and decided it was about time to do something for the country and the party," she said. "I hope I can do my best to make the country go forward. That's what I'm trying to do. Today, I'm honored and I feel very happy."

Paetongtarn is the third member of the Shinawatra family to hold Thailand's top office, following in the footsteps of her father, Thaksin, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. Both Thaksin and Yingluck were ousted from power through military coups and have since lived in exile to avoid imprisonment.

The new prime minister faces immediate challenges, including a floundering economy, growing competition from rival parties, and dwindling popularity of the Pheu Thai Party, which has yet to deliver on its flagship cash handout program worth 500 billion baht ($14.25 billion).

Nattabhorn Buamahakul, Managing Partner at government affairs consultancy Vero Advocacy, described the decision to appoint Paetongtarn as a risky move. "The Shinawatras' gambit here is risky. It puts Thaksin's daughter in the crosshairs and a vulnerable position," Buamahakul said.

Paetongtarn's election is viewed as a bold gamble by her father, Thaksin, who returned from 15 years of self-exile in 2023 as part of a truce with his long-standing rivals in the military and conservative establishment. This fragile truce enabled Srettha to become prime minister, but his dismissal by the constitutional court earlier this week highlights the precarious nature of the Shinawatras' political comeback.

"This is a big bet for Thaksin. There is a possibility for her to fail, and that is a big risk for the entire Shinawatra dynasty," said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist at Ubon Ratchathani University. "If she can't bring the economy back and bring the party back, then it could be the end because the People's Party is gaining more momentum after their dissolution."

The People's Party, a new political vehicle formed by members of the dissolved anti-establishment Move Forward Party, poses a significant challenge to Paetongtarn's government. Move Forward won the most seats in the 2023 election but was disbanded by the courts over its campaign to amend the controversial lese majeste law, which prohibits insulting the monarchy.

The Shinawatra family has long been a central force in Thai politics, with Thaksin first becoming prime minister in 2001. His government was deposed by a military coup in 2006, and he was charged with insulting the monarchy after his return to Thailand last year. His sister, Yingluck, also served as prime minister but was similarly ousted by a coup in 2014 and now lives in exile.

Despite the formidable challenges ahead, Paetongtarn's election brings fresh energy to Thailand's political landscape. She was visibly overwhelmed after the vote, telling reporters, "I really hope that I can make people feel confident that we can build opportunities and improve the quality of life and empower all Thais."

Reflecting on her new role, Paetongtarn acknowledged her inexperience but emphasized the strength of her team. "I am neither the best nor the most talented one in the room," she said. "But I always think I have a strong will and I have a good team... My team is strong, experienced, determined, and we share the same ideas. That’s something I value highly."

As Thailand's youngest and second female prime minister, Paetongtarn faces the daunting task of steering the country through a period of economic stagnation and political instability, while navigating the entrenched power dynamics that have plagued the Shinawatra family for over two decades.