Paetongtarn Shinawatra sworn in as Thailand’s youngest Prime Minister

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was officially sworn in as Thailand’s prime minister on Friday, concluding a period of political unrest following the ousting of her predecessor and the dissolution of the main opposition party.

The 38-year-old, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, took the oath of office in a private ceremony presided over by King Maha Vajiralongkorn at approximately 6:15 pm local time (1115 GMT). Her appointment makes her the youngest prime minister in Thailand’s history.

The king congratulated her new cabinet, saying in a speech broadcast on television news: “I trust that you will perform your duties with excellence.”

Paetongtarn replaces Srettha Thavisin, from her Pheu Thai party, after the kingdom’s Constitutional Court sacked him in mid-August for appointing a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction.

Her 36-member cabinet includes eight women, a record for Thailand, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS.