Bangkok, August 19 — Petangtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has officially taken office as the Prime Minister of Thailand. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Sunday, August 18, in a royal event, marking her as the youngest leader in the country’s history at the age of 37.

The ceremony was held in Bangkok, where King Maha Vajiralongkorn formally endorsed Petangtarn as the new Prime Minister. The royal approval was publicly announced by Epat Sukhananda, Secretary of the Lower House of Parliament.

Following her swearing-in, Petangtarn delivered a brief speech in her white government uniform, expressing gratitude to her supporters. “As the head of the executive branch, I will try to perform my duties with an open mind along with other legislators. I will listen to everyone’s opinion, the effort will continue so that we can move the country forward stably together,” she stated, emphasizing her commitment to inclusive governance.

Petangtarn was elected Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote held the previous Friday, where she garnered 319 votes in favor and 145 against. Her election is particularly notable as it continues the political legacy of the Shinawatra family. She is the third member of her family to serve as Prime Minister in the past two decades, following her father, Thaksin Shinawatra (2001-2006), and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra (2011-2014). Both Thaksin and Yingluck were ousted from power in military coups, making Petangtarn’s tenure a significant moment in the ongoing political narrative of Thailand.

As she steps into this role, Petangtarn faces the dual challenge of leading a nation with a turbulent political history while carrying the weight of her family’s political legacy. Her leadership will be closely watched both within Thailand and by the international community.