Yingluck Shinawatra has become politically turbulent Thailand's first female prime minister after her leadership was confirmed in a parliamentary sitting when the house voted in her favour.Political novice Ms Yingluck, the sister of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, gained support from 296 members of the lower house out of a potential 500, with 197 abstentions - reflecting the majority enjoyed by her party and its allies.
"Ms Yingluck gained more than a simple majority of support in this house, therefore Ms Yingluck was elected prime minister," said house speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont.- She will lead her Red Shirts-backed party along with five smaller parties, who hold three-fifths of the parliamentary majority after a resounding victory in this year's July 3 election over the pro-establishment Democrats.
- The country's 28th prime minister can expect royal endorsement within days to formalise her position.
She will face the immediate challenge of bringing stability to the kingdom after five years of political turmoil, since her brother Thaksin was thrown out of office in a 2006 army coup backed by Thailand's elites.Ms Yingluck has promised to attempt to reconcile the fractured country, which was further divided by violent civil unrest last year.
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