# Who Is Thailand’s Youngest Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ?

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/politics/227470-who-is-thailands-youngest-prime-minister-paetongtarn-shinawatra
- Published: 2025-06-26T22:00:39+07:00
- Author: Bahar Karaman

**Thailand’s young PM, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, faces political turmoil after a leaked
call with Hun Sen, distancing support, protests, and fears of military intervention
threaten her fragile government.**

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest prime minister at 38, assumed office
in August 2024, symbolizing a generational shift with promises of economic and social
reforms. As a member of the influential Shinawatra family, her political career 
was rooted in her family legacy, which deeply divides Thai society.

ADVERTISEMENT

Recently, her leadership faces upheaval after a leaked 17-minute call with Cambodian
leader Hun Sen, discussing border tensions, surfaced online. The incident has prompted
coalition and public support erosion, amid accusations of diplomatic naivety and
threats of parliamentary no-confidence motions.

Thailand’s history of military coups and entrenched army influence adds tension 
to her fragile government. With mounting political instability, her next steps—restoring
trust and navigating military scrutiny—could determine her future leadership amid
a deeply divided nation.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, born August 21, 1986, in Bangkok, is Thailand’s youngest-
ever prime minister, assuming office on August 16, 2024, at age 37, and the second
woman to hold the position. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra and niece of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, making her the
third member of the influential Shinawatra family to lead Thailand. A member of 
the Pheu Thai Party, which she has led since 2023, Paetongtarn was elected after
the Constitutional Court ousted her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, for an ethics
violation.

Educated at St. Joseph’s Convent School, Mater Dei School, and Chulalongkorn University(
BA in Political Science, 2008), she also holds a master’s degree in international
hotel management from the University of Surrey. Before entering politics in 2021,
she managed the hotel arm of her family’s business empire, including a 28.5% stake
in SC Asset Corp, worth approximately $152 million. Known by her nickname “Ung Ing,”
she joined Pheu Thai as head of the Inclusion and Innovation Advisory Committee,
later becoming a prime ministerial candidate in the 2023 elections, campaigning 
prominently despite being pregnant.

### Related**Posts**

###  󠀁[Thailand Watches US Midterms for Signals on Trade, Investment and Regional Stability](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/politics/336882-thailand-watches-us-midterms-for-signals-on-trade-investment-and-regional-stability)󠁿

###  󠀁[Rule of Law Slump Threatens Thailand’s FDI and OECD Ambitions](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/crime/336414-rule-of-law-slump-threatens-thailands-fdi-and-oecd-ambitions)󠁿

###  󠀁[Prime Minister Anutin Congratulates Nene Royal on ‘AGT’ Triumph](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/entertainment/331069-prime-minister-anutin-congratulates-nene-royal-on-agt-triumph)󠁿

###  󠀁[Thailand Emphasizes Maritime Boundary as a Key Focus in UNCLOS Talks](https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/cambodia/329235-thailand-emphasizes-maritime-boundary-as-a-key-focus-in-unclos-talks)󠁿

Her premiership faces challenges, including a struggling economy, declining Pheu
Thai popularity, and accusations of her father’s influence, with critics alleging
she lacks autonomy. A 2025 no-confidence vote, which she survived, highlighted these
concerns. Her wealth, declared at $400 million, including 217 designer handbags 
and 75 luxury watches, has also drawn attention. Paetongtarn’s foreign policy efforts
include strengthening Thailand-China ties and de-escalating border tensions with
Cambodia through diplomacy, notably leveraging her family’s ties with former Cambodian
leader Hun Sen.

Her rise consolidates the Shinawatra dynasty’s influence but faces scrutiny amid
Thailand’s history of political turmoil, military coups, and judicial interventions.
Analysts question her ability to navigate these challenges given her limited governing
experience.