PUBLISHED : 28 Oct 2023 at 04:00
Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, the youngest daughter of jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has been appointed the new chair of Pheu Thai, the party leading the coalition government.
The appointment, announced yesterday after the party’s executive board election, is expected to cement her family’s grip on power following the general election in May.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Paetongtarn thanked the party’s members who elected her after she had already been appointed leader of the “Pheu Thai family” during the election campaign.
Thaksin, who is undergoing a yearlong jail sentence after returning from 15 years of self-imposed exile, was also included in Ms Paetongtarn’s speech. She referred to him as her “political inspiration”.
“It is my honour not only to continue [Thaksin’s] political missions but also to manifest the affirmations made by (party) members to support the people’s fight in their political journey,” she said.
She said she was confident in the party’s ability to grow as its members have amassed much experience in the world of politics. She promised, as the new leader, to improve the mindset of party members, adding that since the election in May, the best decision the party has made was to lead the coalition.
She finished by saying her improvements would restore the party’s reputation as the public’s first choice.
Many figures, including Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, came to congratulate her on her new appointment yesterday at the party’s office.
Mr Srettha told the media he was confident in Ms Paetongtarn’s skills and would provide help if she needed it.
Some important figures were also named to new posts on the party’s board, including Deputy Minister of Finance Julapun Amornvivat and former party leader Chusak Sirinil, both of whom were appointed as deputy leaders.
Danuporn Punnakanta, a former MP for Bangkok, was appointed as a party spokesman, and Sorawong Thienthong, a former deputy minister of public health, was named the party’s secretary-general.