In a significant political development, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s youngest former prime minister, has resigned as the leader of the Pheu Thai Party. The announcement, made on Wednesday morning, comes as the party prepares for a pivotal candidate election scheduled in four months. Paetongtarn emphasized that her resignation marks the beginning of a comprehensive overhaul of the party, aimed at transforming its structure, processes, and mindset to better position itself for the upcoming election and subsequent national revitalization efforts.
Paetongtarn, who served as Thailand’s 31st prime minister and is the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been a prominent figure in Thai politics. Her resignation follows her ousting by the Thailand Constitutional Court in August, which found her guilty of constitutional violations related to a contentious border dispute with Cambodia. This ruling has raised concerns about potential legal risks if she were to endorse parliamentary candidates, prompting her decision to step down to avoid complicating the party’s electoral prospects.
In the interim, the Pheu Thai Party’s Executive Committee will act as caretaker executives until a new leader is elected by November. Wisut Chainaroon, the party-list MP and Chairman of Pheu Thai MPs, clarified that Paetongtarn’s resignation is primarily aimed at facilitating candidate selection and political duties, with the Shinawatra family continuing to support the party behind the scenes.
The political landscape in Thailand remains dynamic, with the Bhumjaithai Party’s leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, recently elected as the new prime minister. His government is expected to dissolve the House of Representatives by January and hold elections in March or April, restoring the public’s right to vote. As Thailand navigates this critical transitional phase, the Pheu Thai Party’s strategic overhaul under new leadership will be closely watched.