Thailand

With her telegenic good looks and powerful political support, Yingluck Shinawatra is shaking up Thailand's first parliamentary election since a wave of political violence last year. The 43-year-old businesswoman, sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has vaulted swiftly into front runner status in the July 3 vote, tapping support in the rural north and northeast heartland where her brother remains a populist hero five years after he was toppled in a coup.

After six prime ministers in six years of sometimes bloody political upheaval, Thais might be excused for shrugging their shoulders about voting in number seven. But this time there's one big difference. The new prime minister will be a woman, the first to hold the position in Thailand. 

Thailand's first female prime minister will this week join a long list of Asian women leaders whose power stems from family ties, with analysts saying the trend is a mixed blessing for equality.

Analysts believe the phenomenon has much more to do with the prevalence of political dynasties in the region than improvements in gender equality.

Paul Chambers, senior research fellow at Payap University in the Thai city of Chiang Mai, said traditionally Asian women were "not supposed to be political leaders" in the region's "macho", patriarchal culture.

Yingluck Shinawatra was poised to become Thailand's first female prime minister Sunday after her party won a majority of parliamentary seats in the nation's general elections.

The official tally had not yet been completed, but with more than 90 percent of votes counted Sunday night, Yingluck's Pheu Thai party had won 262 seats in the country's 500-seat parliament.

We invite you to read the full article published July 4, 2011