“Yingluck Shinawatra” voted first female Thai prime minister

BANGKOK, August 5 (TNA) - "Yingluck Shinwatra", the youngest sister of exiled ex-Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected Thailand's first female prime minister by the majority vote of the country's 500-seat House of Representatives on Friday morning.

Yingluck gained support from 296 members of the Parliament (MP), reflecting the majority vote enjoyed by her Pheu Thai Party. Three MPs voted against her and 197 opposition MPs, including those of the Democrat and Bhumjaithai Parties, abstained from the vote.

The 44-year-old leading Thai businesswoman-turned politician will replace Democrat caretaker prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after she is officially appointed the Kingdom's new prime minister in a royal command endorsed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, formally ending the legacy of the Democrat Party-led coalition administration.

Newly-appointed Thai House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont said that after the parliamentary vote, he will be immediately submitting a draft royal command on the appointment of the 28th Thai prime minister to His Majesty the King for a royal approval. (TNA)