President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has extended his congratulations to Paetongtarn Shinawatra on her appointment as the youngest Prime Minister of Thailand.
In a message shared on social media, President Muizzu remarked that Thailand is poised to enter a new era of prosperity under Paetongtarn's capable leadership. He also expressed optimism about working together to further strengthen the close ties of friendship and mutual cooperation between the Maldives and Thailand.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra became Thailand's youngest prime minister just days after her ally, Srettha Thavisin, was dismissed as premier by the Constitutional Court. She was officially endorsed as prime minister by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday, two days after parliament elected her, paving the way for her to form a cabinet in the coming weeks. The king's approval, a formality, was read out by House of Representatives Secretary Apat Sukhanand during a ceremony in Bangkok.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn won nearly two-thirds of the house vote on August 16, making her Thailand's second female prime minister and the third Shinawatra to hold the office, following her father Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.
In her first press conference as Thailand's 31st prime minister, Paetongtarn pledged to continue the policies of her predecessor and ally, Srettha Thavisin. These include significant economic stimulus and reform, tackling illegal drugs, improving the country's universal healthcare system, and promoting gender diversity. Paetongtarn indicated that details of her government's policies will be presented to parliament next month.