6-9-2023 (BANGKOK) Members of the Pheu Thai Party are rallying behind Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra to assume leadership following the resignation of Cholnan Srikaew, according to Prasert Chanthararuangthong, the party’s caretaker secretary-general.
The caretaker executive board is scheduled to convene on Friday to determine the date for a general assembly to elect the new leader and board members, said Mr. Prasert, who now serves as the digital economy and society minister. The election must be completed within 60 days of the party leader’s resignation.
Dr. Cholnan, aged 62, announced his resignation as party leader on August 30, fulfilling his promise made during the May 14 general election campaign. He pledged to step down if Pheu Thai formed a coalition with the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which it ultimately did.
Dr. Cholnan remains in his position as the public health minister in the new Pheu Thai-led coalition government.
Mr. Prasert revealed that many party MPs are expressing their preference for Ms. Paetongtarn to assume the leadership role.
“While there have been no discussions at party meetings regarding the qualifications for the new leader, Pheu Thai members have shown their desire for Ms. Paetongtarn, the head of the Pheu Thai Family, to be the new party leader,” he stated.
Ms. Paetongtarn, aged 37, is the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently serving a prison sentence while receiving medical treatment at the Police General Hospital.
Thaksin, who returned to Thailand on August 22 after more than 15 years of self-imposed exile abroad, was swiftly sentenced to eight years in prison for conflicts of interest and abuse of authority during his tenure before 2006. However, the 74-year-old billionaire received a royal pardon that reduced his sentence to one year.
A source indicated that Pheu Thai is preparing to announce the appointment of 21 party MPs to serve on the party’s whip, with party-list MP Adisorn Piangkate as the government chief whip.
