Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as the new leader of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP).

On 27 October 2023, the PTP held an annual meeting to select its new executive committee. The party’s former leader Chonlanan Srikaew resigned on 30 August. Today, it announced its new leader, 37-year-old Paetongtarn, a daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

In a press conference, Paetongtarn talked about growing up in the political sphere and witnessing her father’s dedication and ideology. She expressed gratitude to him for inspiring her. She also noted how important the party’s mission is in the rapidly changing political landscape and expressed confidence in the party and its experienced personnel.

Acknowledging that the party needs to change its approach following the recent general election, she stated that the new executive committee would work to regain the people’s trust as the No.1 party.

Paetongtarn added that the PTP will continue its efforts to improve people’s livelihoods, rights and freedoms. She also promised that the party would fulfil policies that were promised to the people, stating that new executive committee’s immediate tasks were to:

1. facilitate improvements by implementing a digital transformation;
2. enhance participation to gain more experience in effective decision-making for the benefit of the people;
3. transform the party into a learning organisation to research and develop policies; and
4. establish a Pheu Thai family network to better listen to the voices of people.

She closed by promising that she and everyone in the party would be “looking to the stars while keeping their feet firmly on the ground to provide strong and unwavering support for the people.”