Thai ruling coalition backs Paetongtarn Shinawatra for prime minister

BANGKOK -- Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party will nominate its 37-year-old leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra for prime minister when parliament votes Friday on a replacement for Srettha Thavisin, who was removed by the Constitutional Court.

Coalition parties announced the nomination on Thursday. With 314 coalition seats in the 500-member House of Representatives and barring any defections, Paetongtarn will likely become Thailand's second female prime minister and Asia's youngest head of government. She is a daughter of party boss and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.