Thailand’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra officially appointed as prime minister following royal endorsement

BANGKOK — Thailand’s newly elected Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra received royal assent on Sunday, officially allowing her to assume office.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed Paetongtarn as prime minister, two days after her election by Parliament, according to the Bangkok Post.

The royal approval, a traditional formality, was read out by House of Representatives Secretary Apat Sukhanand during a ceremony in Bangkok.

Following the endorsement, Paetongtarn, 37, expressed her gratitude to the king and the people’s representatives, pledging to lead with an open heart and work alongside legislators to ensure the country’s stability.

Paetongtarn, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now becomes Thailand’s 31st and youngest premier. Her appointment follows the removal of Srettha Thavisin by the Thai Constitutional Court due to an ethics violation.

With the royal assent, Paetongtarn is now set to form her Cabinet in the coming days, further solidifying her role as the country’s leader. She is the third member of the influential Shinawatra family to serve as Thailand’s prime minister, following her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra. — Agencies