Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s new Prime Minister, will face his first no-confidence motion in parliament. That public debate starts Monday, March 24. Her opposition will want to put her leadership to the test, pre-eminently looking at the country’s lackluster economy. At 38 years old and a member of the Shinawatra clan like her predecessors, she would be the fourth member of the clan to take Thailand’s top political post. She came to office in August after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was removed from office for an ethics breach.
Even with the parliamentary gauntlet ahead, Paetongtarn comes into this policy chamber with an impressive advantage. With the government holding an effective parliamentary majority, the motion should not pass. She is always claiming that her administration is self-governing. She pushes back hard against any suggestions that it’s controlled by outside actors, including her famous father, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thaksin, a former Prime Minister in his own right, has insisted that he is retired and only comes back to offer counsel in times of trouble. His outspoken support for policies like legalizing gambling and embracing cryptocurrency have made waves. Paetongtarn’s administration has implemented a US$14 billion handout program designed to stimulate economic growth. So far the steps have failed to produce substantial economic growth in Thailand, South-East Asia’s second-largest economy. Its overall growth rate last year of 2.5% was a significant shortfall compared to its regional peers.
"The opposition's tactic to delegitimise Paetongtarn's leadership is not new because she already faces criticism from society," said Yuttaporn Issarachai.
"The focus on Thaksin's role and interference makes it too political and not beneficial to public, instead of raising issues on the economy and security," Yuttaporn Issarachai further commented.
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