Thai PM triumphs in confidence vote in first test of premiership

By Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra breezed 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.

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. 

POLARISING TYCOON

Multiple governments led by the Pheu Thai Party and its predecessors, all controlled by Thaksin, have been removed by courts or military coups since 2006, underscoring deep-rooted animosity between the polarising tycoon and powerful conservatives with influence over Thailand's key institutions. 

The opposition People's Party, the biggest party in parliament, directed much of its attacks on Paetongtarn's close relationship with her father, a former premier who is banned from holding office over a conviction for conflicts of interest and abuse of power that kept him in self-exile for 15 years. 

Thaksin, a former owner of English football giants Manchester City, has loomed large over Thai politics for 24 years and returned home in 2023. He spent six months in detention in hospital under a government led by Pheu Thai, before being released on parole and declaring he was retired from politics. 

He has since spoken openly and often about government policy but has repeatedly said he only offers his daughter advice.

Paetongtarn, the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to hold the top job, had during the debate insisted she was giving her best for the country and should be judged by her work, not her family ties.   

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." 

(Reporting by Artorn Pookasook, Panu Wongcha-um, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)