Thailand Elects First Female Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra

Thailand elected its first female prime minister today, Yingluck Shinawatra, as the ruling Pheu Thai Party claimed a historic victory. This is a significant moment in Thailand's history, to have a woman prime minister. It is a new chapter for Thailand.

Is Yingluck Shinawatra ready to be Thailand's first female prime minister? Unlike her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister in exile overseas, the 44-year-old former beauty queen and businesswoman has no political experience. Many Thai voters are very proud and are in love with Ms. Yingluck's charm and beauty. Meanwhile, others are questioning her ability to lead the country, especially considering the controversial legacy of her brother, Mr. Thaksin.

Mr. Thaksin is in exile overseas due to allegations of corruption. Some media reports also allege that innocent people were killed under his rule. While he was in office, there were allegations that his government committed human rights violations against its own people. Despite these allegations, Mr. Thaksin still runs a multimillion dollar phone company in Thailand. His youngest sister, Ms. Yingluck, was a businesswoman in his telecommunications empire. There is also a belief by some that Ms. Yingluck is as a puppet taking orders from her brother and allowing him to call the shots from overseas.

Despite her brother's history, she is her own woman. Thai residents are making history in their country and the rest of the world. This election creates hope for positive change and women's rights. This is a huge step for Thailand and all Southeast Asian countries. This history marks a new beginning for women and girl empowerment in Thailand. It is interesting that more and more developing countries, such as Costa Rica, have female presidents (Laura Chinchilla), yet the U.S. has never elected a women for president. Should the U.S. elect a woman president for the 2012 election?

READ MORE...