Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s rise to the helm of the ruling Pheu Thai Party is being seen as preparation for her to become prime minister – either if the top job is vacated prematurely, or after the next election.
This highlights her family’s continuing influence in Pheu Thai and Thai politics more than two decades after her father Thaksin made his political debut as leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, say many observers.
“It’s now time for the boss’s daughter to lead the party” is how many long-time observers of Thai politics see it.
The divisive former prime minister is widely regarded as Pheu Thai’s de facto chief and patriarch despite holding no executive post in the party.
Paetongtarn, 37, is his youngest daughter.
Thaksin is serving sentences for corruption during his time as PM but is currently being treated at the Police General Hospital for an…
