Thailand's Ruling Party Elects Thaksin Shinawatra's Daughter, Paetongtarn, as New Leader

Paetongtarn's election as Pheu Thai leader continues the political dominance of the Shinawatra family in Thailand, despite previous disputes and her father Thaksin Shinawatra's recent return from a 15-year exile.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been elected as the new leader of Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party, signifying the family's continued political dominance. Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and returned to the country from a 15-year exile earlier this year.
Previously, Thaksin's sister Yingluck was elected the country's first female prime minister in 2011 but her government was also ousted by a coup in 2014. Throughout these shifts in power, the Shinawatra family maintains popular support among low-income voters in Thailand due to their populist policies.
The election of Paetongtarn to the leadership role comes after the Pheu Thai Party underperformed in the recent elections and resorted to forming a coalition with two military-aligned parties, a move that caused a decline in its standings among many Thais.
Despite these factors, Paetongtarn has committed to upholding the party's mission of 'bringing policies that we promise to the people to reality.' Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, also from the Pheu Thai Party, was among those who congratulated her on her election.
Thaksin's return to Thailand earlier this year has been met with controversy because he was originally exiled to avoid a jail sentence after being found guilty of corruption. Upon his return, he was immediately taken to prison, then quickly transferred to a hospital, then had his prison term reduced from eight years to just one, sparking claims of favoritism.