Thailand has a new prime minister two days after the Constitutional Court unexpectedly sacked Prime Minister Sritha Tavisin. 37-year-old Petongtarn Shinawatra became the Prime Minister through the voting in the Thai Parliament. Along with this, Petongtarn has also become the youngest Prime Minister of Thailand.

Petongtarn was elected by getting 319 votes in the voting held on Friday. There were 145 votes in opposition and 27 MPs were absent. Speaking at the party headquarters in Bangkok after being elected as the prime minister, Petongtarn said that she had a "very honored experience". "I will do my best for the country as Prime Minister," she said, "I am hopeful that we can empower all the people of Thailand to create opportunities and improve living standards." Before taking office, Thai King Mahabhajiralankarna must approve her appointment. 

Petongtarn is also the second female Prime Minister of Thailand. Earlier, his aunt Yingluck Shinawatra became the Prime Minister of Thailand. Petongtarn was nominated for the post of Prime Minister by Phew Thai Party Secretary General Sorawong Thiengthong on Friday morning. Newly appointed Prime Minister Petongtarn faces the challenge of improving Thailand's unstable economy. In addition, he seems to have to stop the frequent military coups and unnecessary court interference in Thailand. Four governments led by the Party of Petong Tarn have been overthrown by the military coup and court intervention. 

Thailand's Constitutional Court dismissed Sritha Tawisin on Wednesday for violating the 'rules of ethics'. The court dismissed a former lawyer who was already jailed for appointing him as a minister. Reacting after the court verdict, Tawisin said he was confident in his faith. He responded, "Even though he is saddened by the court's decision, he does not disagree with the order". 

After Pijit Chunban was made a minister, three dozen MPs filed a lawsuit against him with the demand that Tawisin be released from the post of prime minister. Chunban was sentenced to six months in prison after being found guilty of attempted bribery. After the controversy, Chunban resigned from the post of minister in 19 days. But on Wednesday, five out of nine judges of the Constitutional Court decided that the Prime Minister had appointed Pijit in violation of official conduct. Tavisin was appointed Prime Minister in August 2023, ending the 9-year military rule. Thawisin was able to become the prime minister due to the political equation that prevented the Move Forward Party from forming a government in the May 2023 election in Thailand. 

After the election, the 'Move Forward Party' led by Pita Limzaryat was expected to form the government. But the Senate, which had the influence of the army, prevented him from becoming the prime minister. Tabisin was then able to come to power after a consensus between the second largest party, Phiu Thai, and other parties supported by the military. There is no appeal against the decision of the Constitutional Court of Thailand, which has unlimited power. The Constitutional Court has dismissed three people including him in a period of 16 years. Last week, the court ordered the dissolution of the 'Move Forward Party' for making unconstitutional promises during the election. In addition to that, the court has also banned 11 members of parliament from politics for 10 years. 

Petongtarn is the daughter of former prime minister and billionaire businessman Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin first became the Prime Minister of Thailand in 2001. But in 2006, his second term came to an end with the military coup. After 15 years in exile, Thaksin returned to Thailand last October. He returned to the country just hours before Sritha Tavisin became Prime Minister. He returned to the country after a 'big deal' with the Pheu Thai Party. Since then, Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai and Phew Thai parties have been running a coalition government. 

Last June, he was charged with 'insulting the monarchy'. Thaksin is the highest-ranking person in Thailand to be prosecuted on the charges. In Thailand, political vendettas are prosecuted under "lesse-majesty" laws. Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, was elected with a landslide in 2011. But later he was disqualified by the court. After that, Yingluck, who was deposed by the military coup, is currently in exile.