Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Thailand’s Parliament Picks New Premier Amid Chaos
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BANGKOK (Worthy News) – The parliament of Thailand has voted for the heir of a powerful and polarizing dynasty to lead the Asian nation as its youngest prime minister ever.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra succeeds Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from the constitutional court Wednesday in what critics viewed as another blow to Thai democracy.
The 37-year-old new prime minister, known by her nickname Ung Ing, is the youngest child of billionaire businessman Thaksin Shinawatra and the third family member after her father and aunt to hold the nation’s top job.
Srettha’s removal was the latest in a long-running battle between the military, the pro-royalist establishment, and populist parties linked to Thaksin.
Commentators said that the legacy and political future of the billionaire Shinawatra family could be at stake for Paetongtarn.
Her father was Thailand’s first democratically elected prime minister to serve a full term and was re-elected in 2005 by an overwhelming majority despite significant controversies.
MUSLIM INSURGENCY
His government launched programs to reduce poverty, expand infrastructure, promote small and medium-sized enterprises, and extend universal healthcare coverage.
However, he also took a strong-arm approach against the separatist insurgency in the Muslim southern provinces.
Additionally, Thaksin declared a “war on drugs” in which reportedly more than 2,500 people were killed. He was later accused and sentenced to two years imprisonment in absentia over misuse of power allegations.
Thaksin spent years in exile after being removed in a military coup in 2006 and returned to Thailand only last year when his Pheu Thai party formed the government.
The ruling coalition chose his daughter Paetongtarn as its new leader and prime minister at a meeting late Thursday after none of the 10 other parties in the coalition put forward an alternative.
Parliament then approved the appointment with 319 votes or nearly two-thirds of the house.
FEMALE PREMIER
She will become Thailand’s second female prime minister and the third Shinawatra to take the top job after aunt Yingluck Shinawatra and father Thaksin, the country’s most influential and polarising politician.
In her first media remarks as prime minister-elect, Patongtarn said she had been saddened and confused by Srettha’s dismissal and decided it was time to step up.
“I talked to Srettha, my family, and the people at my party, and I decided it was about time to do something for the country and the party,” she told reporters.
“I hope I can do my best to make the country go forward. That’s what I’m trying to do. Today, I’m honored, and I feel very happy.”
Her response after winning was posting on the social media platform Instagram a picture of her lunch – chicken rice – with the caption: “The first meal after listening to the vote.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Dutch authorities have foiled a planned attack on a building housing a synagogue and school in the western town of Heemstede, detaining two teenagers suspected of preparing an explosion or arson with terrorist intent, officials said.
Israel has carried out a rare and far-reaching military strike on Iran’s Caspian Sea port of Bandar Anzali, targeting a logistics hub used by Russia and Iran to transport weapons, according to the Wall Street Journal..
The partial government shutdown stretched into its 39th day Tuesday as Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-backed plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, drawing sharp criticism from conservatives who argue politics is being placed ahead of national security.
Louisville, Kentucky has agreed to pay $800,000 in attorney’s fees to Christian photographer Chelsey Nelson following her legal victory over the city’s public accommodations law, which had required her to photograph same-sex weddings if she offered services for traditional marriages.
Israeli intelligence assessments indicate Hezbollah has been significantly weakened, losing an estimated 85% of its missile arsenal since the war ignited by Hamas’ October 7 massacre. The Iranian-backed terror group is now believed to possess between 11,000 and 13,000 rockets—roughly one-sixth of its pre-war stockpile.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the ongoing conflict with Iran has already resulted in what he described as a “regime change,” signaling a dramatic shift in leadership dynamics within the Iranian government as Washington presses forward with negotiations to end hostilities.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that Israeli forces plan to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, outlining a strategy to create a “defensive buffer” amid ongoing conflict with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com