THE daughter of an ousted prime minister was elected to be Thailand’s new leader yesterday after a court order removed the current premier from power.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra has become Thailand’s third leader from the family after her billionaire father Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and her aunt Yingluck, who lives in exile.

She is the country’s youngest leader at 37 and was the only nominee to replace Srettha Thavisin as leader of the Pheu Thai party.

Ms Paetongtarn won the parliamentary vote unopposed with the support of nearly two-thirds of the house.

Mr Srettha was removed by Thailand’s Constitutional Court this week over his appointment of a cabinet member facing allegations of bribery.

Ms Paetongtarn said she was very “honoured and happy.”

“I really hope that I can make people feel confident, that we can build opportunity and quality of life,” she said.

“I hope that I can do my best to make the country go forward.”