Though it is too soon to determine her political agenda, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s new prime minister, has significant film industry heritage. And some family baggage to go with it.
Elected by parliament on Friday, just two days after a Constitutional Court ruling removed her predecessor Srettha Thavisin, Shinawatra is the country’s youngest PM, the second woman PM and the third from her family to hold the top political post. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, were both elected and then removed by military coups, in 2006 and 2014 respectively.
The Pheu Thai Party, which Shinawatra heads, came to power last year after the pro-democracy Move Forward Party dominated the May 2023 general election but was prevented by establishment forces from leading a government. (The same Constitutional Court outlawed Move Forward earlier this month and has banned its leaders from holding political office for 10 years.)
According to protocol, the parliament’s pick for PM only becomes final once it has been endorsed by the king. Until then, Shinawatra is not saying anything about either her policies or her cabinet of ministers. Her cabinet choices will also require separate royal approval.
For millions of low-paid Thai citizens, whether the new PM presses ahead with Thavisin’s proposal to put THB10,000 ($280) into their pockets through a digital wallet scheme will be close to the top of their policy wish list. For many, restarting and modernizing the country’s struggling, tourism-dependent, economy will be important. The country’s film and TV industries can also expect a sympathetic ear and may be hoping for more specific measures.
Not only is Shinawatra the daughter and granddaughter of cinema operators, but ramping up Thailand’s overseas projection of “soft power” has been a key policy of her Pheu Thai Party.
The Thavisin government put forward proposals for the launch of a major new cultural support body, the Thailand Creative Culture Agency, with a budget of THB7 billion ($200 million) and a remit that stretches from film and TV to Muay Thai boxing and cuisine.
Unsurprisingly, given the multiple jostling interests, this was not expected to come into being until 2025. But Shinawatra was set as the head of a subcommittee, reporting directly to the previous prime minister, that was empowered to fast-track reforms to the feature film and long-form documentary sectors.
Expected changes included a reduction in the burden of censorship, the creation of a body that facilitates location shooting and permits, as well as larger and more meaningful rebate program for inbound productions and funding to grow the local industry.
Thailand’s existing rebate program offers a 15% rebate, with a further 5% bonus for projects that use large local components, but it has previously been capped at $2.25 million.
Despite that low subsidy ceiling, Thailand has recently attracted inbound productions including the “Alien” series, Season 3 of “The White Lotus” and parts of the latest “Jurassic World 4” movie.
The growing popularity of the “Boys Love” or “BL” genre of TV series and the recent regional success of hit film “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” also mean that Thai-produced entertainment is enjoying a moment of positive momentum.
Still, Shinawatra will have to be careful not to irk the establishment. Her father is back in Thailand after more than a decade of fugitive exile and has been treated leniently so far. But he risks being indicted in a royal insult case and is, in effect, a political hostage who ensures that the new PM won’t do anything too radical.