 |
| A supporters of Thailand’s prime minister-elect Yingluck Shinawatra holds a magazine with her photo on the front cover as they celebrate her victory following the announcement of exit polls at the party headquarter in Bangkok, July 3, 2011 (Photo: AP) |
July 07, 2011
Daniel Schearf | Bangkok
Voice of America
She says Thailand, after years of political turmoil and sporadic street violence, can benefit from having a woman in charge. “I think I can use as the female to talk with everyone to make the country… move forward by the peaceful strategy,” she said.
Thailand is set to have its first female prime minister in Yingluck Shinawatra, younger sister of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Her victory as leader of the opposition Pheu Thai party has raised hopes that women can play a larger role in the country’s male-dominated politics. But many question if she can emerge from her brother’s shadow, let alone challenge Thai society’s cultural and social barriers for women.
Yingluck Shinawatra emerged victorious in one of the most high-stakes elections in Thailand’s recent history.
Her Pheu Thai party won a comfortable majority in a rebuke to Thailand’s traditional elite, who backed the ruling Democrat party of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The 44-year-old businesswoman is now preparing to hold her first political office as Thailand’s first female prime minister.
She says Thailand, after years of political turmoil and sporadic street violence, can benefit from having a woman in charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment