Thailand's new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of controversial billionaire ex-premier Thaksin, vowed to boost the kingdom's sluggish economy as she formally took office on Sunday. Paetongtarn, at 37 the kingdom's youngest ever PM, comes to power after a court sacked the previous premier and disbanded the main opposition party, throwing Thailand's ever-febrile political scene into a new round of turmoil. She is the third Shinawatra to be prime minister, but will hope to avoid the fate of her father and aunt Yingluck, both of whom were thrown out of power in military coups.
Paetongtarn accepted King Maha Vajiralongkorn's official written command to form a government in a ceremony at the headquarters of a former pro-Thaksin TV station on Sunday. She called on all Thais to work together to help revitalise the country's economy, which has struggled to bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic. "As head of the government I will work with parliament with an open heart, open to all ideas to help develop the country," she said after the ceremony.
"Fellow Thais, this duty cannot be done by the prime minister alone. I hope I will be able to coordinate the power of all generations, all talented people in Thailand -- from the cabinet, the coalition, civil servants, private sector and the people." Thaksin, 75, was a prominent attendee at the ceremony, standing alongside Paetongtarn's husband in the front row.
"She has to work hard. Her strong point is that she is young, s.