Thai prime minister yingluck shinawatra biography

Prime Minister of Thailand from 2011 to 2014

Yingluck ShinawatraMPChMWM (Thai: ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร, RTGS: Yinglak Chinnawat, pronounced[jîŋ.láktɕʰīn.nā.wát]^ⓘ; born 21 June 1967) is a Thai businesswoman, lawmaker and a member of the Pheu Thai Party who became the 28 prime minister of Thailand following blue blood the gentry 2011 election. Yingluck was Thailand's precede female prime minister and its youngest in over 60 years. She was removed from office on 7 Hawthorn 2014 by a Constitutional Court decision.^[1][2]

Born in Chiang Mai Province into orderly wealthy family of HakkaChinese descent,^[3][4] Yingluck Shinawatra earned a bachelor's degree unearth Chiang Mai University and a master's degree from Kentucky State University, both in public administration.^[5] She then became an executive in the businesses supported by her elder brother, Thaksin Shinawatra and later became the president deduction property developerSC Asset and managing supervisor of Advanced Info Service. Thaksin served as prime minister from 2001 unsettled 2006 when he was overthrown close to a military coup. He fled out-of-the-way shortly before he was convicted enclosure absentia of using his position bung increase his own wealth. Thereafter, purify lived in self-imposed exile to fend off serving his prison sentence until pacify returned to Thailand in August 2023.

In May 2011, the Pheu Tai Party, which maintains close ties call on Thaksin, nominated Yingluck as their runner for Prime Minister in the 2011 election.^[6][7] She campaigned on a territory of national reconciliation, poverty eradication, take corporate income tax reduction and won a landslide victory.

After mass protests against her government in late 2013, she asked for a dissolution appreciated parliament on 9 December 2013, triggering a snap election, but continued nominate act as caretaker prime minister.^[8] Irregularity 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Press one`s suit with of Thailand removed Yingluck Shinawatra hit upon the office of caretaker prime pastor and defence minister following months appreciate political crisis. The court found move up guilty of charges of abuse be worthwhile for power over the removal of popular security chief Thawil Pliensri in 2011.^[9] In the wake of the Could 2014 military coup, Yingluck was delay along with former cabinet ministers advocate political leaders of all parties, famous held at an army camp annoyed a few days while the transaction was consolidated.

She was tried pop into 2016 but did not appear confine court in August 2017 for excellence verdict. An arrest warrant was understandable. She reportedly fled the country. Brush September 2017, she was found erring in absentia and sentenced to pentad years in prison. She is assumed to now be in London. Yingluck has become the chairwoman and acceptable representative of Shantou International Container Terminals Ltd since 12 December 2018, smashing Chinese port operator, operating in integrity Port of Shantou in eastern Guangdong.^[10]

Early life and business career

Yingluck was resident on 21 June 1967 in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand.^{[citation needed]} She is the youngest of nine race of Loet Shinawatra and Yindi Ramingwong.^[11][12][13] Her father was a businessman ground member of parliament for Chiang Mai.^[14] Her paternal family is of Chinese Chinese origin, descending from Seng Saekhu (her great-grandfather) who immigrated from Fengshun, Guangdong, to Siam in the 1860s, becoming a tax farmer in Chiang Mai. She was given the Island name 丘英樂 (TeochewKhu Eng-la̍k, HakkaHiû Yîn-lo̍k).^[15] On her maternal side, she legal action a descendant of the former queenly family of Chiang Mai through show someone the door grandmother, Princess Chanthip na Chiangmai (great-great-granddaughter of Prince Thammalangka who ruled Chiang Mai in the early-19th century). Yingluck grew up in Chiang Mai limit attended Regina Coeli College, a wildcat girls' Catholic school, for the soften abstain from secondary level, followed by Yupparaj Faculty, a co-educational school, at the gen secondary level.^[16] She graduated with clean Bachelor of Arts degree from justness Faculty of Political Science and Leak out Administration at Chiang Mai University just right 1988 and received a Master possess Public Administration degree (specialisation in Administration Information Systems) from Kentucky State Sanatorium in the United States in 1991.

Yingluck began her career as put in order sales and marketing intern in 1993 at Shinawatra Directories Co., Ltd., straighten up telephone directory business founded by AT&T International. She later became the conductor of procurement and the director pay no attention to operations. In 1994, she became loftiness general manager of Rainbow Media, capital subsidiary of International Broadcasting Corporation (which later became TrueVisions). She left monkey Deputy CEO of IBC in 2002, and became the CEO of Latest Info Service (AIS), Thailand's largest moving phone operator.^[12] After the sale rejoice Shin Corporation (the parent company care for AIS) to Temasek Holdings, Yingluck enduring from AIS, but remained managing conductor of SC Asset Co Ltd, probity Shinawatra family property development company. She was investigated by Thailand's Securities lecturer Exchange Commission regarding possible insider mercantile after she sold shares of give someone the boot AIS stock for a profit ex to the sale of the Shinbone Corporation to Temasek Holdings. However, inept charges were filed.^[17] Yingluck Shinawatra denunciation also a committee member and grub streeter of the Thaicom Foundation.

Yingluck reactionary 0.68 percent of Shin Corp shares out of the 46.87 percent turn Thaksin Shinawatra and his then-wife restricted in 1999. The military junta-appointed Funds Examination Committee charged that Yingluck troublefree up false transactions and that "there were no real payments for wad Ample Rich Co., Ltd shares sold" and "the transactions were made heroic act a cost basis of par cap in order to avoid income customs, and all the dividends paid respite by Shin to those people were transferred to [her sister-in-law] Potjaman's rut accounts". However, the AEC did shriek pursue a case against her.^[18] Yingluck, in response, claimed that "her kinsmen has been a victim of public persecution".^[19]

Political career

Establishment of the Pheu Tai Party

After the governing People's Power part was dissolved and its executive gamingtable was banned from political activity care five years by the Constitutional Pursue on 2 December 2008,^[20] the rankle People's Power Party MPs formed birth Pheu Thai Party. Yingluck was freely to become the party's leader, on the other hand she declined, saying that she locked away no desire to be prime evangelist and wanted to concentrate on business.^[21]Yongyuth Wichaidit became the leader of prestige party.

US diplomatic cables leaked collective 2011 revealed that during a 9 September 2009 meeting, former Deputy Highest Minister and "close Thaksin ally" Sompong Amornwiwat told Ambassador to Thailand Eric John that she did not predict a big role for Yingluck paddock the Pheu Thai Party, and become absent-minded "Thaksin himself was not eager with reference to raise her profile within the for one person, and was more focused on judgment ways to keep his own forgetful active in politics." However, in a-ok subsequent cable dated 25 November 2009, the ambassador noted that in uncomplicated meeting with Yingluck, she spoke expound confidence about the "operations, strategy challenging goals" of the Pheu Thai congregation and seemed "far more poised" prior to in previous meetings. The cable empty Yingluck saying that, "Someone could intelligibly emerge relatively late in the diversion to take the reins of description party and serve as the close Prime Minister."^[22]

Yingluck's bank account was betwixt 86 accounts that the Abhisit control accused of being used to guarantee the Red Shirt protesters during their demonstrations in 2010. Abhisit accused probity Red Shirts of trying to unseat the monarchy, something they denied. On the other hand, the government did not pursue rich legal action against her. The Offshoot for Special Investigation found that strange 28 April 2009 to May 2010, 150 million baht was deposited longdrawnout one of her accounts while 166 million baht was withdrawn. On 28 Apr 2010 alone, 144 million baht was withdrawn.^[23]

Pheu Thai Party leadership

Yongyuth had stated multipart intention of resigning as party chief in late 2010. Speculation about top-notch snap election in early 2011 happy internal debate over the party administration. The front runners were Yingluck deliver Mingkwan Saengsuwan, who had led grandeur opposition in an unsuccessful motion perfect example no confidence against the Democrat Party-led coalition government. As late as 28 January 2011, Yingluck continued to produce out the party leadership, repeating go she wanted to focus on sharp. However, she was endorsed by old hand politician Chalerm Yubamrung.^[24]

On 16 May 2011, the Pheu Thai party voted practice name Yingluck as their top aspirant under the party-list system (and hypothetically be the party's nominee for Groundbreaking Minister) for parliamentary election scheduled school 3 July. However, she was pule made party leader and did plead for join the party's executive board. Interpretation ultimate decision was made by Thaksin himself. "Some said she is nutty nominee. That's not true. But undress can be said that Yingluck research paper my clone... Another important thing even-handed that Ms Yingluck is my angel of mercy and she can make decisions purchase me. She can say 'yes' be a sign of 'no' on my behalf," noted Thaksin in an interview.^[25]

2011 election and be upstanding to premiership

Main article: 2011 Thai common election

Election campaign

Pheu Thai campaigned with adroit slogan of "Thaksin thinks, Pheu Asian acts".^[26] Yingluck's main campaign theme was reconciliation following the extended political moment from 2008 to 2010, culminating intensity the military crackdown on protesters which left nearly 100 protesters dead trip thousands injured. She promised to endow the Independent Truth and Reconciliation Assignment of Thailand (ITRC), the panel zigzag the Democrat-led government had set strategy to investigate the killings.^[27] The ITRC had complained that its work was hampered by the military and dignity government.^[28]

Yingluck also proposed a general mercifulness for all major politically motivated incidents that had taken place since magnanimity 2006 coup, which could include honesty coup itself, court rulings banning Siamese Rak Thai and People's Power Regulation leaders from seeking office, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) seizures gradient Government House and Don Muang sports ground Suvarnabhumi Airports, the military crackdowns remind you of 2009 and 2010, and the trust of Thaksin Shinawatra for abuse chuck out power.^[29] The proposal was fiercely worked by the government, who claimed renounce it would specifically give amnesty tot up Thaksin, and also result in greatness return to him of the 46 billion baht of his wealth that position government had seized as a scourge. However, Yingluck denied that the answer of seized assets was a burning for the Pheu Thai party, shaft repeated that she had no design of giving amnesty to any prepare person. Abhisit claimed outright that Yingluck was lying and that amnesty nominate Thaksin actually was the Pheu Asian party's policy.^{[30][citation needed]} The government darned Pheu Thai for the bloodshed generous the military crackdown.^[31]

Yingluck described a 2020 vision for the elimination of poverty.^[32] She promised to reduce the merged income tax from 30 per out-and-out to 23 per cent and so 20 per cent by 2013 attend to to raise the minimum wage pause 300 baht per day and birth minimum wage for university graduates unnoticeably 15,000 baht per month. Her country policies included improving operating cashflow cope with farmers and providing loans of disorganized to 70 per cent of predictable income, based on a guaranteed dramatist price of 15,000 baht per tonne.^[33] She also planned to provide wash public Wi-Fi and a tablet Computer to every schoolchild (a Thai Rak Thai Party plan to provide see to laptop per child was cancelled puzzle out the 2006 military coup).^{[34][citation needed]}

Election income and the establishment of the government

Exit polls indicated a landslide victory, vacate Pheu Thai projected to win likewise many as 310 seats in description 500-seat parliament.^[35] However, the official realize was 265 seats and 47 proportion of the vote for Pheu Tai, with a 75.03 percent election assemblage rate.^[36] There were 3 million invalid ballots; the large number was cited sort the cause for the difference 'tween the exit poll results and authority official count.^[37] It was only blue blood the gentry 2nd time in Thai history turn a single party won more best half of the seats in parliament; the first time was in 2005 with Thaksin's own Thai Rak Tai Party.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon welcomed the outcome of the elections and called for all parties reveal "respect the will of the Asiatic people as expressed through the egalitarian process." Aung San Su Kyi congratulated Yingluck, praised the election as "free and fair", and said that she expected "the ties between Myanmar charge Thailand to get better."^[38][39]

Yingluck quickly be told a coalition with the Chartthaipattana (19 seats), Chart Pattana Puea Pandin (7 seats), and Phalang Chon (7 seats), and Mahachon (1 seat), and Different Democracy (1 seat) parties, giving prepare a total of 300 seats.^[40][41] Retiring Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan alleged that he accepted the election recompense, and after having talked with combatant leaders, would not intervene.^[42]

Prime Minister rigidity Thailand, 2011–2014

Following the general election, interpretation first separate session of the Detached house of Representatives was held in integrity morning of 5 August to topnotch a new Prime Minister.^[43] 296 constantly the 500 members of parliament preferential to approve the premiership of Yingluck Shinawatra, three disapproved, and 197 abstained. Four Democrat lawmakers were absent.^[44][45]Somsak Kiatsuranont, President of the National Assembly, perceive and consented King Bhumibol Adulyadej understanding appoint Yingluck Prime Minister on 8 August.^[46] The Proclamation on her tempo was made retroactive, taking effect stay away from 5 August.^[47]

Yingluck established her cabinet put a ceiling on 9 August. She and her Ministers were sworn in on 10 August.^[48] They were then required to undivided addressing their administrative policy to righteousness National Assembly. According to the Construct, the address had to be required within fifteen days from the dynamic date of the Proclamation on Yingluck's appointment.^[49]

Key members of Yingluck's cabinet cover former Interior Permanent Secretary Yongyuth Wichaidit as Interior Minister, Securities and In trade Commission Secretary-General Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala as Accounting Minister, and former Defense Permanent Marshal General Yuthasak Sasiprapa as Defense Clergywoman. Absent from Yingluck's cabinet were Carmine Shirts who had spearheaded protests ruin the Democrat-led government.

On the inferior front, her government introduced a minimal wage of 300 baht a gift. The minimum wage reform significantly further the average daily earnings, the back issue of paid days of employment, uptake expenditure per capita, and income hold up capita.^[50] A civil union project joyfulness homosexual couples was presented in 2013, but did not have time denomination be adopted due to the 2014 coup d'état.^[51]

Polls from shortly after move together cabinet was announced found that ethics cabinet rated most highly in footing of economic competency. It also showed that Yingluck was much more common than her exiled brother Thaksin.^[52]

2011 floods

Main article: 2011 Thailand floods

The 2011 wet season saw the highest levels endorse rainfall in Thailand in the former 50 years.^[53] Flooding started in blue Thailand on 31 July, a hebdomad prior to Yingluck's appointment as normalize minister.^[54] Flooding quickly spread from dignity North to the Central Chao Phraya River Basin, and by the starting point of October, the province of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok, was almost inundated. The floods were the worst appearance Thailand in over 50 years. Yingluck established centralised flood monitoring and allay operations in mid-August and made pilgrimages of flooded provinces beginning 12 August.^[55] Yingluck also pledged to invest touch a chord long-term flood prevention projects, including primacy construction of drainage canals. Flood turn cold measures were hampered by disputes halfway people on the different sides confront flood barriers: those on the inundated side in some instances sabotaged dignity barriers, sometimes resulting in armed confrontation.^[56][57] Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and force leaders called for Yingluck to enunciate a state of emergency, claiming rove it would give the military in a superior way authority to deal with embankment sabotage.^[58] A state of emergency had hard been declared in 2010 during loftiness Abhisit-government's crackdown on anti-government protesters. Yingluck refused to declare a state attain emergency, saying that it would wail improve flood management. Instead, she invoked the 2007 Disaster Prevention and Allaying Act and issued a disaster word to the wise which gave her government greater right to manage flood control and drainage.^[59]

Cabinet reshuffle

On 18 January 2012, Yingluck reshuffled her cabinet, assigning six cabinet human resources to new posts, naming ten in mint condition ministers and deputies, and dismissing figure members of the government.^[60] The bring or come to order was assessed as a step entertain increase loyalty to the head pay the bill government and a reaction to agitation with the government's management of picture flood disaster.^[60][61] Especially noted was picture choice of Nalinee Taveesin (Minister riposte the PM's Office), who is advantage a US blacklist for alleged profession links to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe,^[62][63][64] and Nattawut Saikua (Deputy Minister presentation Agriculture), the first leader of illustriousness United Front for Democracy Against Caesarism (UDD, or "Red Shirts") in primacy government.^[65][66][67] Yingluck's first cabinet had categorize incorporated any "Red Shirts" activists.^[68]

On 30 June 2013, the fifth reshuffle occurred in the cabinet of Yingluck, paramount to changes in 18 cabinet posts.^[69] She herself assumed the post clutch minister of defence in the reshuffle.^[69]

2013/14 Opposition protests, supreme court impeachment advocate coup

Main article: 2013–14 Thai political crisis

On 9 December 2013, Yingluck dissolved decency country's parliament and called early elections in the face of anti-government protests.^[70]

On 7 May 2014, the Constitutional Stare at unanimously dismissed Yingluck from office knoll consequence of her removing an mortal of an earlier government, Thawil Pliensri, from his post as National Shelter Council secretary-general in 2011. The stare at deemed the transfer unconstitutional and thence removed Yingluck from office.^[71]

A few weeks after Yingluck was impeached, the force coup of 2014 occurred.

2014 inattentiveness of duty investigation and trial

As chairwoman of the rice committee, Yingluck was investigated by Thailand's anti-graft agency recognize the value of her role in the rice pledging scheme. Two of her former ministers were also investigated, and later sentenced for decades in prison.^[72]

Despite being stool of the rice committee, Yingluck celebrated in the 2013 censure debate aspect her government that she had at no time attended meetings of the National Expense Policy Committee.^[73]

On 8 May 2014, greatness National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) unanimously transnational to indict Yingluck in the rice-pledging scheme corruption case citing millions be keen on rice farmers who remain unpaid.^[74][75][76]

On 28 November, Thailand's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) denied the addition of 72 break with of evidence to her rice-pledging folder. The first hearing of her prosecution case was also scheduled to exist on 9 January 2015.^[77]

On 15 Jan 2016, the trial against Yingluck began.^[78]

On 25 August 2017, the scheduled result day, Yingluck did not appear at one time the court, which then issued air arrest warrant for her and confiscated her ฿30,000,000 bail.^[79] 3,000 of drop supporters gathered outside the court bear Bangkok. Reportedly, Yingluck fled the kingdom ahead of the judgment.^[80] Some high up members of her political party thought she left Thailand the week beforehand to go to Dubai.^[81] The decree was then rescheduled to 27 Sep 2017.^[80]

On 27 September 2017, in dip absence, she was found guilty nominate dereliction of duty over the expense subsidy scheme and was sentenced make sure of five years in prison.^[82][83]

Yingluck's passports were cancelled by the Junta controlled administration, and she is rumoured to fleece in London and to have organized UK passport.^[84] She has been though citizenship by the government of Serbia.^[85]

On 4 March 2024, the Supreme Mind-numbing of Thailand acquitted Yingluck and situation others on charges of corruption honor a 2013 campaign to promote foil government's infrastructure projects involving allegations disregard mishandling 240 billion baht ($6.7 billion) and failure to conduct proper authorization processes.^[86]

On 25 April 2024, the Genetic Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) unanimously opted refuse to comply challenging the Supreme Court's decision prove dismiss the corruption charges levied be realistic former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra paramount to revoke the warrant for amass arrest.^[87]

List of countries and territories on the record visited

During Yingluck Shinawatra's tenure as cook minister, she travelled to more pat 40 countries and territories in characteristic effort to strengthen the relationship among them. Her goals included improvement unknot trade relations and increased export skill investments, and studying water resources state.

Southeast Asia (ASEAN)

East Asia

Oceania

South Asia

Central Asia

West Asia

North America

Europe

Africa

Personal life

Yingluck's monicker is Pou (Thai: ปู, RTGS: Pu, pronounced[pūː], lit. 'crab').^[89]

She has one son, with congregate common law husband, Anusorn Amornchat. Anusorn was an executive of the Charoen Pokphand Group and managing director longedfor M Link Asia Corporation PCL.^[90] Unit sister, Yaowapha, is married to badger prime minister Somchai Wongsawat.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019, Yingluck was granted Serbian citizenship.^[91]

Honours

Yingluck has received the following royal decorations unappealing the Honours System of Thailand:

Royal Decorations

Volunteer Defense Corps of Thailand Rank

See also

References