The Shinawatra family wants fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to postpone his return from exile to Thailand, according to a source.

Shortly before the May 14 general election, Thaksin, who fled the country to avoid facing jail time, tweeted that he wanted to return home before July 26, his 74th birthday, to care for his grandchildren.

His planned return was discussed on Wednesday at a family meeting attended by Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, Thaksin's ex-wife, Thaksin's daughters, Pintongta and her husband, and Paetongtarn.

The meeting at a Bangkok hotel took place after Ms Paetongtarn, one of the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidates, told the press at Pheu Thai Party headquarters that her father wants to return home next month and is ready to face justice.

According to the source, Thaksin cannot wait to return but the family is not sure about the timing and wants him to postpone his plan until the formation of the coalition government.

The source said the family also thinks it is too soon for Ms Paetongtarn to be prime minister and that it would be better for her to wait five years. At 37, the clan feels she is too young to handle the political situation, the source said.

Early on Wednesday, Ms Paetongtarn told the media that Thaksin plans to return to Thailand in July but he is likely to look at several factors before deciding on a date.

She said Thaksin has made no coordination through her, but he is believed to be liaising with certain government agencies.