Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra successfully withstood a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Wednesday, following a two-day debate during which her opponents alleged that she had mismanaged the country and allowed her father, a former prime minister, to exert control over her administration.
Opposition lawmakers claimed that she was excessively influenced by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin, a widely popular yet highly controversial political figure, was ousted in a 2006 military coup, went into exile, and recently returned to Thailand.
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Paetongtarn’s critics argued that her administration had improperly prioritised her family’s personal and financial interests, particularly those of her father. They also accused her of tax evasion and of failing to address persistent national issues such as the sluggish economy, air pollution, crime, and corruption.
She secured 319 votes in her favour, while 161 voted against her and seven abstained in the first no-confidence vote she has faced since taking office last year. Her predecessor, another Pheu Thai prime minister, was removed by the Constitutional Court for committing a serious ethical violation.
Following the vote, Paetongtarn expressed gratitude to all parties for their participation in the process.
“Every vote, whether in support or opposition, serves as motivation for me and the Cabinet to continue working with dedication for the people,” she wrote on social media.
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Paetongtarn leads the Pheu Thai Party, the latest in a series of populist parties linked to Thaksin. For nearly two decades, Thaksin has been central to Thailand’s deep political divides, with his support base among the predominantly poor, rural population clashing with royalists, the military, and their urban allies, who accuse him of endangering their status and that of the revered monarchy.