BANGKOK: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a leading candidate to become Thailand’s prime minister, gave birth to a baby boy only two weeks before the election day, according to the Guardian.
Shinawatra, who is 36 years old and leads the opposition Pheu Thai Party, announced her second child’s birth on social media, saying that she will speak with the media in few days when she is strong enough.
ดีใจที่สุด! ขอแสดงความยินดีกับหลานอิ๊งค์และปอนะจ๊ะที่ในที่สุดก็ได้เห็นหน้าหลาน "ธาษิณ" แล้ว หลังจากรอคอยอุ้มท้องหาเสียงด้วยความอดทนมานาน ขอให้หลานมีสุขภาพกายที่แข็งแรงและจิตใจที่เข้มแข็งเหมือนแม่ และเชื่อว่าคุณตาคงอดใจรอจะอุ้มหลานไม่ไหว ส่วนอาก็รอวันที่จะได้อุ้มหลานนะ pic.twitter.com/N67GWNx8xI
— Yingluck Shinawatra (@PouYingluck) May 1, 2023
Ms. Shinawatra has been campaigning vigorously, despite being heavily pregnant. She has been the first or second choice for prime minister among voters due to her family’s name and her party’s enduring popularity, according to Al Jazeera. She is expected to win the majority seats in the lower house in two weeks’ time.
Notably, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the youngest daughter of billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from power through a military coup in 2006 over corruption charges. Facing a potential prison sentence, Taskin went into self-imposed exile.
Her aunt has also served as prime minister in the politically turbulent kingdom and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid prison convictions.
However, the Shinawatras have retained a loyal support base among rural voters in northeast and north Thailand, according to the Guardian. Parties associated with her family have won the most seats in every election since 2001.
Thailand elections
The birth of Shinawatra’s son may have an impact on the upcoming election, as it could raise questions about her ability to manage the responsibilities of being both a mother and a prime minister.
On the other hand, it could also humanize her and help her connect with voters who have children themselves.
In a tweet on Monday, Thaksin Shinawatra said he was “delighted” over the birth of his grandson. “All of my seven grandchildren were born while I was in exile. I may ask for permission to return to my country to take care of my grandchildren since I am almost 74 years old this coming July,” he wrote.
The general election is set to be held on May 14, and the campaigning is in the final phase.
