August 16, 2024: Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been elected as Thailand’s Prime Minister, becoming the country’s youngest-ever leader and marking the return to power of the Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics over the past two decades.

She gained popularity as a Prime Minister candidate during last year’s general election, when she campaigned during the later stages of pregnancy as chief of the Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party.

Paetongtarn, who is not an elected lawmaker, was the only nominee in the parliamentary vote on Friday. Her swift ascent followed a ruling by Thailand’s constitutional court this week to remove former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office over a cabinet appointment that the court said breached ethical standards. Sret tha had served less than a year in the role.