A Luncheon Presentation by Pana Janviroj, President, The Nation

In August this year, Thailand elected its first woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, when her Pheu Thai party won a landslide victory over a coalition backed by the nation’s military and traditional elite. The younger sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in a 2006 military coup, Ms. Yingluck has no political experience, and has played down the possible influence of her brother on her administration. Since her brother was forced to relinquish power, the nation has seen five prime ministers come and go, in addition to violent clashes in Bangkok.

What are Ms. Yingluck’s biggest challenges? Will her brother wield influence on her rule? How will the power struggle between the established elite and the rural majority play out? What are the prospects for the economy under the new government?

Pana Janviroj is President of The Nation, Thailand's leading English-language newspaper. He is also Executive Director of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 21 leading newspapers from 18 Asian countries. Janviroj has held several different roles at The Nation, including editor from 1996-2005.  Janviroj was a Jefferson fellow at the East-West Centre. He graduated in economics from Essex University and received his Masters degree from Tufts University in the United States.