Pitha Limjaroenrat has been elected as the new prime minister of Thailand

On August 16, 2024, the lower house of the Thai parliament held a meeting to vote on the candidate for prime minister. Pitha Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, received the support of more than half of the lower house members and was successfully elected as the new prime minister.

Pitha Limjaroenrat was born in 1986 and is the daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. On August 14, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was unconstitutional and removed him from office. On August 15, the ruling coalition in Thailand agreed to nominate Pitha Limjaroenrat as the candidate for prime minister.

It is reported that according to the Thai constitution, a prime minister candidate must receive the support of more than half of the existing 493 members of the lower house to be elected. Currently, the 11-party ruling coalition led by the Pheu Thai Party holds 314 seats.

After being elected, Pitha Limjaroenrat became the second female prime minister in Thai history and also the youngest prime minister.