Thailand's parliament elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country's first female prime minister on Friday, a month after her party won a landslide victory in July 3 elections.

The lower house of parliament voted 296 to three in Ms. Yingluck's favor. Another 197 members abstained.

The 44-year-old, who started her political career in June, is the sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown in a bloodless 2006 coup and is now living in self-imposed exile.

Before she can assume power, King Bhumibol Adulyadej must endorse her in a separate ceremony, expected within days.