Thailand appoints Paetongtarn Shinawatra as new PM

Thailand appointed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as its new prime minister today, after dismissing former prime minister Srettha Thavisin for an ethical violation.

Thailand's constitutional court dismissed Srettha Thavisin on 14 August for violating ethical standards by appointing a cabinet minister who was previously imprisoned.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, of the ruling Pheu Thai party, is the daughter of former ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and was the sole candidate nominated for the position. A special parliamentary session on 16 August voted for the new prime minister, where Paetongtarn Shinawatra won 319 out of 493 votes.

Thaksin Shinawatra's younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra also served as the country's prime minister from 2011-14. She fled into exile following widespread protests in 2014, which saw demonstrators seeking to overthrow the government, and the opposition claiming that the deposed Thaksin Shinawatra was still controlling the administration.

By Prethika Nair