Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Ex-PM's Sis Sweeps to Victory in Thai Vote

Yingluck Shinawatra set to assume power

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 3, 2011 9:57 AM CDT

(AP) – The sister of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led Thailand's main opposition party to a landslide victory in elections Sunday, heralding an extraordinary political turnaround five tumultuous years after her fugitive billionaire brother was toppled in an army coup. The vote paves the way for 44-year-old Yingluck Shinawatra, who has never held office, to become this Southeast Asian kingdom's first female prime minister.

A large mandate to govern could help the new government navigate a way out of out of the crisis that has plagued Thailand since Thaksin's 2006 overthrow. Thaksin was barred from politics years ago after a graft conviction, and the US-educated Yingluck, who he calls "my clone," is widely considered his proxy. With 94% of the vote counted, preliminary results indicated Yingluck's Pheu Thai party had a strong lead with 261 of 500 parliament seats. Speaking to a throng of cheering supporters, Yingluck declined to declare victory until final results are released. But she said: "I don't want to say that Pheu Thai wins today. It's a victory of the people."

Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai party casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School during Thailand's general election.
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai party casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School during Thailand's general election.   (Vincent Yu)
A novice Buddhist monk looks on near an election poster for a candidate in Thailand's Democrat party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday July 3, 2011.
A novice Buddhist monk looks on near an election poster for a candidate in Thailand's Democrat party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday July 3, 2011.   (David Longstreath)
Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra greets upon her arrival at a polling station to cast her ballot in a general election in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, July 3, 2011.
Opposition Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra greets upon her arrival at a polling station to cast her ballot in a general election in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, July 3, 2011.   (Apichart Weerawong)
A Buddhist monk walks near an election poster for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand's Democrat party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, July 3, 2011.
A Buddhist monk walks near an election poster for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand's Democrat party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, July 3, 2011.   (David Longstreath)
Buddhist monks gather near an election poster for Pheu Fah Din Party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, July 3, 2011.
Buddhist monks gather near an election poster for Pheu Fah Din Party during morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, July 3, 2011.   (David Longstreath)
Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people queue up at a polling center to vote in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai party, shows the Thailand ID card before she casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School during Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011.
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai party, shows the Thailand ID card before she casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School during Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Opposition leader Yingluck Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party casts her vote at Wat Khonglumjeak School in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Thai people queue up at a polling center to cast their votes for Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people queue up at a polling center to cast their votes for Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Thai people looks a voters' list at a polling center before voting in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people looks a voters' list at a polling center before voting in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition Pheu Thai Party leader Yingluck Shinawatra, left, is surrounded by reporters after casting her ballot at a voting station in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok.
Opposition Pheu Thai Party leader Yingluck Shinawatra, left, is surrounded by reporters after casting her ballot at a voting station in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok.   (Vincent Yu)
Opposition Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra casts her vote in a general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, July 3, 2011.
Opposition Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra casts her vote in a general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, July 3, 2011.   (Apichart Weerawong)
In this Aug. 28, 2006 file photo, then Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is pictured at government house in Bangkok, Thailand.
In this Aug. 28, 2006 file photo, then Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is pictured at government house in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Apichart Weerawong)
Thai people looks at a voters' list at a polling center before voting in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people looks at a voters' list at a polling center before voting in Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Thai people queue up at a polling center to cast their votes for Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Thai people queue up at a polling center to cast their votes for Thailand's general election on Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.   (Vincent Yu)
Buddhist monks gather near an election poster for a candidate in Thailand's Democrat party during their morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday July 3, 2011.
Buddhist monks gather near an election poster for a candidate in Thailand's Democrat party during their morning rounds in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday July 3, 2011.   (David Longstreath)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
3%
11%
26%
55%
3%
3%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
TessTalks
Jul 5, 2011 12:05 AM CDT
Yeah, sisters . . . one country at a time . . . till women rule . . . then we can finally end the masculine pissing contest called WAR.
Rammrodd
Jul 3, 2011 10:50 AM CDT
Miss Yingluck, she fine looking lady. She make good Prime Minister for Land of Smiles.
reno-reines
Jul 3, 2011 10:28 AM CDT
Great stuff! Congrats to the new prime minister. I hope you leads her country well ;)

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Thailand • Thaksin Shinawatra • Thai elections • election • Yingluck Shinawatra

More Newser Stories

Party of Ousted Prime Minister Wins Thai Races

Hacker Mocks Thai PM— on Her Own Twitter Account

Deposed Thai PM Returns Home

Thais Will Bust Exiled PM if He Returns

Thai Death Toll Passes 500
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment