Paetongtarn Shinawatra
แพทองธาร ชินวัตร
Leader of the Pheu Thai Party
Assumed office
27 October 2023
Preceded byChusak Sirinil (acting)
Personal details
Born (1986-08-21) 21 August 1986
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyPheu Thai
Spouse
Pitaka Suksawat
​
(m. 2019)​
Children2
Parents
RelativesPanthongtae Shinawatra (brother)
Yingluck Shinawatra (aunt)
Somchai Wongsawat (uncle)
EducationChulalongkorn University (BA)
University of Surrey (MSc)

Paetongtarn Shinawatra (Thai: แพทองธาร ชินวัตร; RTGS: Phaethongthan Chinnawat; nicknamed Ung Ing; born 21 August 1986) is a Thai politician and businesswoman who is the current leader of the Pheu Thai Party. A member of the Shinawatra political family, she is the youngest daughter and niece of the two former Thai prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck, respectively.[1][2]

Early life and education

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was born in Bangkok. She went to Saint Joseph Convent School for junior high school and Mater Dei School for high school. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology from the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University in 2008 and continued her studies in England, earning a MSC degree in International Hotel Management from the University of Surrey.[3]

Paetongtarn is the No. 1 shareholder of SC Asset Corporation and a director of the Thaicom Foundation. She is married to Pitaka Suksawat and they have two children; a daughter and a son.[4]

Political career

At a meeting of the Pheu Thai Party on March 20, 2022, Paetongtarn was elected as "Head of the Pheu Thai Family".[5] When speaking at the Pheu Thai Party's annual general meeting in April 2022, she said that she wants to see regime change in Thailand and wants to gain more experience before standing for the post of the country's prime minister.[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 general election, along with Srettha Thavisin and Chaikasem Nitisiri.[7] Following weeks of debate, Srettha was elected prime minister by the parliament of Thailand.

Paetongtarn expressing her vision after being elected as the Pheu Thai Party’s leader

On October 27, 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.

Political positions

Social issues

Paetongtarn is socially liberal on most issues. 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 the lèse-majesté laws. Like her party, Paetongtarn supports stricter drug control and tough-on-crime measures.

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.

Economics

In a 2023 interview with FAROSE, 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.

Royal decorations

Order_of_the_Direkgunabhorn_(Thailand)_ribbon 2005 – The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn, 6th Class, Gold Medal (G.M.T.)[8]

References

  1. ↑ "New Shinawatra may lead the next quest for power as Pheu Thai aims for 14 million members". Thai Examiner. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Young Shinawatra appointed Pheu Thai chief adviser for innovation". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. ↑ matichon (22 March 2022). "เปิดประวัติ อุ๊งอิ๊ง-แพทองธาร ทายาทชินวัตร หัวหน้าครอบครัวเพื่อไทย". มติชนออนไลน์ (in Thai). Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  4. ↑ News, VietNamNet. "Báo VietnamNet". VietNamNet News (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 29 April 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ "The Return of Shinawatra in Thai politics?". Asia Media Centre | New Zealand. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "New 'Pheu Thai Family' head wants more experience before becoming PM". www.thaipbsworld.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Pheu Thai Party unveils its three prime ministerial candidates". www.thaipbsworld.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. ↑ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่สรรเสริญยิ่งดิเรกคุณาภรณ์ ประจำปี ๒๕๔๘, เล่ม ๑๒๒ ตอนที่ ๒๒ ข หน้า ๘, ๓ ธันวาคม ๒๕๔๘
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