King Maha Vajiralongkorn formally endorsed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Thailand’s new prime minister on Sunday after parliament voted her into office as the country’s youngest prime minister.
Paetongtarn’s royal ratification took place at a traditional ceremony after she gained the support of parliament on Friday with an almost two-thirds majority.
Paetongtarn, 37, a scion of the powerful Shinawatra clan and head of the ruling Pheu Thai party, will now move to appoint a cabinet.
“This mission is a great one and cannot be accomplished by the prime minister alone. I expect to coordinate power among those of all generations and capable people in all sectors in Thailand including the cabinet, coalition parties, civil servants, the private sector and the general public,” she said during the ceremony, according to a report in the Bangkok Post.
Paetongtarn is the second woman to hold the post, following her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Her appointment follows the dismissal on Wednesday of Srettha Thavisin, who was forced from office by a Constitutional Court ruling.
Paetongtarn is the daughter of billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin and his sister Yingluck each ruled for several years, but were deposed in military coups.
Thaksin went into exile in 2008 to escape a prison sentence and was immediately arrested on his return last year.
Paetongtarn said she had no plans to appoint her father to any government position but would seek his advice, the Bangkok Post report said.
Thaksin has been released from custody but continues to face a charge of lèse majesté, or defamation of the monarch.
