New Pheu Thai party leader: new beginning or end of the era?

New Pheu Thai party leader: new beginning or end of the era?

The upheaval within the Pheu Thai party

On October 31, the Pheu Thai Party, one of the country's most influential political organizations, elected Julapun Amornvivat as its new leader. This came after the surprise resignation of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was forced to face a court ouster as prime minister, signaling the end of an era for the Shinawatra family in Thai politics. At 39, Paetongtarn was the face of Pheu Thai and, as prime minister, championed philanthropic issues such as universal health care and support for farmers. Her resignation is intended to protect the party from impending legal problems that could harm its political existence.

Julapun, 50 years old and former deputy finance minister, will succeed his father Sompong Amornvivat, who served as party leader in 2019, as the new leader. He has coined major campaign issues in the past, including a 10,000 baht stimulus and the legalization of casinos. Observers agree that Julapun will continue to be under the shadow of Thaksin Shinawatra, the family's political patriarch. Thaksin, who founded the first version of the party in the late 1990s, was deposed in a military coup in 2006 and spent more than a decade in exile.

A paradigm of political difficulty

In recent years, however, the political climate for Pheu Thai has deteriorated sharply. Thaksin himself, who returned to Thailand in 2025 and was convicted of corruption, continues to face legal challenges. Recently, the Supreme Court reported that his hospitalization was unlawful, which could further complicate his political return sought after his release from prison.

His daughter Paetongtarn was recently ousted as prime minister and the party's popularity is in free fall. According to recent polls, their support fell spectacularly from 31% to just 9.2% in just a few months. Political rivals and coalition partners who once supported Pheu Thai now tend to turn away from the party, further hindering it.

Challenges and future prospects

Pheu Thai's difficulties are not just due to internal problems. The resignation of Kanchanaburi MP Sakda Vicheansil criticized the government for its failures and reflects discontent growing within the party. More and more MPs are expressing concern about the economic situation, particularly with regard to agricultural producers, who are affected by falling prices and await promised aid.

The challenge for Julapun will be to reinvent Pheu Thai and convince voters of its value. The increased competition and disappointed expectations could further seal the fate of the Shinawatra dynasty if they are unable to offer fresh incentives and regain trust.

Given the current circumstances, Thai politics is at a fork in the road - the question is whether Pheu Thai will make the leap or whether we are witnessing the ultimate end to the dominance of one of the country's most prominent political dynasties. The coming months will be crucial for the further development of the party and the political landscape of Thailand.

For more information on this topic you can read the articles from Business Times, BBC and MarketSpy consult.