Thai PM Shinawatra Wins No-Confidence Vote In Parliament

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra scaled through a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday in the first test of her premiership, emerging unscathed from a two-day opposition onslaught to reaffirm the stability of her coalition.

Thailand’s youngest premier won the backing of 319 of 488 lawmakers present, despite a barrage of barbs during a censure debate that accused her of being unqualified, lacking economic knowledge, evading tax, serving her wealthy family and taking direction from her billionaire father and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra.

We are doing everything we can to deter conflict with the Communist Chinese, who we don’t seek conflict with at all. But we will stand strong in deterrence and will posture troops forward.

The censure motion was an early test of Paetongtarn’s mandate more than seven months after she was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight as a political neophyte who had never held public office, replacing ally Srettha Thavisin after his removal by a court for an ethics violation.
She rejected all the allegations levelled at her.

Despite her lukewarm ratings in opinion polls and economic growth far adrift of regional peers, Wednesday’s vote showed Paetongtarn’s 11-party coalition remains solid, lowering the prospect of near-term instability in a country for two decades fraught with intermittent political turmoil.

“Every vote, both support and against, will be the strength for me and the cabinet to continue our work for the people,” 38-year-old Paetongtarn posted on X social media, thanking her ruling alliance for its support.

People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said that despite winning the confidence vote, Paetongtarn was still unfit for the job.

“The prime minister’s abilities are still lacking,” he said. “And if Thailand has a prime minister without the right qualities, the nation will be at a loss.”

Reuters/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma