Sah! Raja Thailand Terima Paetongtarn Jadi Perdana Menteri

Prime Minister of Paetongtarn Shinawatra (X @anwaribrahim)

BANGKOK - Paetongtarn Shinawatra was inaugurated as prime minister by the King of Thailand on Sunday 18 August, two days after parliament voted for him. The approval paved the way for Thaksin Shinawatra's daughter to form a cabinet in the coming weeks.

Paetongtarn (37 years), became Thailand's youngest prime minister just days after his ally Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by the Constitutional Court. The judiciary has taken a role in the two decades of political turmoil that has taken place in Thailand.

The approval of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which is a formality, was read out by the Secretary of the House of Representatives Apat Sukhanand at a ceremony in Bangkok on Sunday.

Paetongtarn wore a civil service uniform to pay tribute to the portrait of King Vajiralongkorn before giving a short speech. He thanked the king and representatives of the people for supporting him as prime minister.

"As the chief executive branch, I will carry out my duties with legislators with an open heart," he said.

"I will listen to all opinions so that together we can bring this country forward with stability," he added.

Paetongtarn, which has never previously served in government, will face challenges in various fields, as the economy is slumping and the popularity of the Pheu Thai Party is declining. The Pheu Thai party, which controls the government, has not implemented its flagship program, which is to provide cash in the form of digital wallets promised to the people.

After receiving royal support, Pautongtarn hugged his father and other family members.

The fall of Sretta, after less than a year in office, was a reminder of the risks for Pautongtarn because Thailand was caught in a coup cycle and a volatile court ruling that had dissolved political parties and removed many prime ministers.

The daughter of former prime minister Thaksin was elected through the DPR vote on Friday 16 August, and won 319 votes, or nearly two-thirds of the vote to become Thailand's second female prime minister. She is also the third Shinawatra clan to take office, after Thaksin and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra.