Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party, one of the nation’s most prominent political factions, has elected Julapun Amornvivat as its new leader following the resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Paetongtarn stepped down last week after a court ruling in August removed her from the prime ministerial position due to an ethics violation related to a border dispute with Cambodia. Analysts suggest her departure was a strategic maneuver to protect the party from potential legal repercussions, potentially signaling the end of the Shinawatra family’s long-standing influence in Thai politics. Julapun, a former deputy finance minister and son of veteran politician Sompong Amornvivat, was chosen during a vote livestreamed on the party’s official Facebook page. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by party members. Julapun, 50, has been instrumental in promoting Pheu Thai’s key policies, including a proposed 10,000-baht ($300) stimulus package and the legalization of casinos. Despite the leadership change, observers believe the party will continue to be influenced by Thaksin Shinawatra, who founded the party in the late 1990s and remains a central figure in Thai politics. Thaksin, currently serving a prison sentence for corruption, was ousted in a 2006 coup and spent over a decade in exile. The Shinawatra family has long been at odds with Thailand’s pro-military and pro-royalty elite, who view their populist policies as a challenge to the traditional social order.