Thailand's governing alliance to nominate Paetongtarn Shinawatra for PM

Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, gestures as she attends a birthday celebration held by red shirt supporters, a day ahead of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, coming home from self-exile, at the party headquarter in Bangkok, Thailand, August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/FIle Photo

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's governing alliance agreed on Thursday to back 37-year-old political newcomer Paetongtarn Shinawatra as its candidate for prime minister, a day ahead of a pivotal vote in parliament.

The deal follows a flurry of behind-the-scenes talks in the 24 hours since a court dismissed Srettha Thavisin as premier, as his Pheu Thai Party rushed to secure backing from its 11-party alliance in a bid to form the next government.