Displaying items by tag: new prime minister

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 37, has been officially endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn as Thailand’s new prime minister, just two days after her election by parliament. The country’s youngest and second female leader, she follows in the footsteps of her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, the country's first female premier. She has taken over after the dismissal of her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, by the constitutional court. In her first speech, she pledged to govern with an open heart, emphasising stability and continuity. She has vowed to maintain key policies of her predecessor, focusing on economic stimulus, healthcare reform, tackling illegal drugs, and promoting gender diversity. The economy is a real concern for voters, with many asking why her party has failed to fulfil its promise to give about $300 to every voter in Thailand.

On 28 May Garry Conille was appointed as Haiti's new prime minister, following a month-long selection process after Ariel Henry resigned in April. Conille, UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023, had previously served as prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012. His appointment comes amid severe gang violence in Port-au-Prince, where gangs have attacked police stations, demolished prisons, and released over 4,000 inmates. Following coordinated gang attacks on 29 February, Port-au-Prince's main airport was out of action for nearly three months. Conille has a background in medicine and public health, contributing to Haiti's reconstruction efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake. As he assumes office, Haiti is still waiting for the UN-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries.

On 24 August, after a bitter row that has thrust the country's political landscape into turmoil, Australia’s Liberal party named finance minister Scott Morrison as the country's new leader, after he emerged victorious from a three-way race with former home affairs minister Peter Dutton and foreign minister Julie Bishop. The ugly fight for power comes just nine months before a May 2019 deadline for a new general election, and continues a torrid period of instability for Australian leadership - Mr Morrison will be the country's sixth prime minister in less than ten years. Mr Turnbull, who called the leadership vote after losing the majority support of the party, opted not to contest it. The crisis for the Liberal party is far from over, however. Mr Turnbull intends to resign from parliament, leaving the new government facing a by-election for his Sydney seat that could see it lose its one-seat majority. It is reported that Ms Bishop, having been defeated in the leadership ballot, would likely also resign from politics.