BANGKOK, Oct 22 — Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on Wednesday that she is stepping down as leader of Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party to allow for a party overhaul.
According to the Bangkok Post, Paetongtarn said in a written statement that her resignation follows her announcement on October 7 and is intended to “start the overhaul of the Pheu Thai Party with a new vision and courage for change truly for the sake of the people.”
“The Pheu Thai Party, one of the nation’s major political parties, must be revamped… Change in the party must begin as soon as possible. Therefore, I choose to resign as the party leader to let the party be revamped freely and perfectly rebuilt,” she said.
Despite stepping down as leader, Paetongtarn stressed she will remain “a member of the Pheu Thai Party, the head of the Pheu Thai family, and will together with all of us build a new era for the Pheu Thai Party.”
Sorawong Thienthong, former Pheu Thai secretary-general, told reporters that Paetongtarn called a meeting of all party members and MPs to explain her resignation.
He said she had “made a sacrifice” to save the party and prevent her story from being used as a “political tool” in the future.
Sorawong added that her resignation comes amid petitions for Pheu Thai’s disbandment following her removal as prime minister by the Constitutional Court in August over a controversial phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The move is also part of the party’s preparations for the general election scheduled for March 2026.
The Pheu Thai Party’s popularity has waned since the scandal, which saw many key politicians and MPs resign after the party lost government following Paetongtarn’s dismissal.
