Paetongtarn Shinawatra is overwhelmingly favoured to take over the helm of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and lead a promising crop of young politicians in the changing of the guard after the party's election of new leaders and executives on Friday, according to senior party figures.
Phumtham Wechayachai, acting deputy party leader, said on Tuesday that Pheu Thai members are throwing their support behind Ms Paetongtarn, head of Pheu Thai Family and the youngest daughter of jailed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, to be the next party leader.
At 37, she is now cut out for leadership, given her maturity and political experience, Mr Phumtham, who is deputy prime minister and commerce minister, said. He also highlighted her collaborative work with Pheu Thai members in previous election campaigns and her responsiveness to their needs.
However, Mr Phumtham suggested that Ms Paetongtarn might need to consult her family before deciding whether to pursue party leadership.
He also acknowledged that there are several qualified members, spanning from individuals in their 20s to middle-aged aspirants with political ties to Pheu Thai's predecessors, the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, and its successor, the People's Power Party (PPP). Both the TRT and the PPP were dissolved over electoral fraud.
PHUMTHAM: Thaksin's daughter Paetongtarn gets Pheu Thai's backing
Pheu Thai was now ready to pass the baton to the younger politicians, said Mr Phumtham, aged 69.
Prasert Chantararuangthong, acting Pheu Thai secretary-general, said the meeting had been called after Dr Cholnan Srikaew resigned as Pheu Thai leader on Aug 30, a move which effectively resulted in a purge of executives.
Mr Prasert said Ms Paetongtarn is well-suited to take the reins of Pheu Thai as she commands respect and knows how to run the party. However, the members will have the final say in the ballot.
Declining to return as secretary-general, Mr Prasert said it is time for the new generation of politicians to oversee the party.
More internal changes were in store, which would prepare the party for the next election, he added.
By introducing new leadership and executives, Pheu Thai could now go head-to-head with the main opposition and election-winning Move Forward Party (MFP), itself made up of mostly young politicians.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who was nominated for the premiership by Pheu Thai, spoke in favour of Ms Paetongtarn helming the party, citing her leadership quality.
A Pheu Thai source said Sorawong Thienthong is poised to succeed Mr Prasert as secretary-general. The 48-year-old MP from Sa Kaeo province had served as deputy public health minister under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration and is son of veteran politician, Sanoh Thienthong, who was dubbed a “kingmaker” during his political heyday.
At the meeting on Friday, Pheu Thai is expected to elect list MP Chusak Sirinil, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat and Roi Et MP Jiraporn Sinthuprai as deputy party leaders and list MP and former actor Danuporn Punnakanta as party spokesman.