Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has successfully survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, overcoming accusations from opposition parties that she is influenced by her father, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
During Wednesday’s vote, Paetongtarn secured the backing of 319 out of 488 lawmakers present, with seven abstentions. The vote followed a two-day censure debate in which opposition leaders criticized her governance and questioned her experience in managing the country.
The opposition People’s Party claimed Paetongtarn was under the influence of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who served as Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006.
Paetongtarn is also the niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, who held the role of prime minister from 2011 until her removal in a coup in 2014.
During Tuesday’s censure debate, opposition MPs criticized the prime minister’s perceived knowledge gaps and accused her of avoiding questions from reporters.
Paetongtarn also faced accusations of economic mismanagement, national security failures, and tax evasion.
The motion came amid declining public confidence in her government. A February NIDA poll showed public satisfaction with her first six months in office at just 45.12 percent. Confidence in her coalition’s ability to address national issues was even lower, at 38.55 percent.
