Former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has announced her decision to resign from her position as Pheu Thai Party leader.

A statement from Paetongtarn was published on Wednesday morning (22 October) on the Pheu Thai Facebook page, stating that she decided to resign to initiate a complete overhaul of the party and to allow the party to make changes independently.

She stresses that she remains a member of the party. She will be supporting the party as it enters its new era and will continue to work for the public.

Paetongtarn’s resignation means that the party’s executive board is also removed. Deputy party leader Chousak Sirinil has been named acting leader, and party members will elect a new leader and executive board on 31 October.

Following Paetongtarn’s resignation, rumours spread online that Paetongtarn was pressured into resigning. Conservative political activist Thaikorn Polsuwan alleged that the Juangroongruangkit family forced Paetongtarn to resign, and that if she refused, Pheu Thai election director Suriya Juangroongruangkit would defect along with 70 other MPs.

Krungthep Turakij reported that Suriya has denied the allegation and said that he will file a defamation lawsuit against Thaikorn for damaging his reputation and that of acting deputy part leader Pongkawin Jungroongruangkit. He also said that he will not accept any out-of-court settlement.

Suriya insisted that he will never leave Pheu Thai and vowed to bring the party more MPs. He also denied the rumour that he has been nominated as new party leader, saying that the party needs a younger leader and that he is too old.

Meanwhile, according to Matichon Online, Pheu Thai MP Wisut Chainarun said that nobody forced Paetongtarn to resign. He insisted that Paetongtarn wants the party to move forward and make clear changes ahead of the next election. He also said that her resignation is unlikely to lead more MPs to leave the party because people who want to leave have already left. Many new members have joined the party, Wisut said, and the party is in the process is selecting people who will run in the next election. He said that he understands those who left the party, noting that they might want to run in the next election to make up for the past but the party has to consider younger candidates as older people might not be able to go into the field during the campaign.