Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has resigned as leader of the Pheu Thai Party to pave the way for a major revamp within the party.
The announcement was made on Wednesday morning through a written statement in which she said her decision was in line with her reform pledge made earlier this month.
“Today I decided to resign as the leader of the Pheu Thai Party with the intention of starting the overhaul of the Pheu Thai Party, as I announced on October 7, 2025, with a new vision and courage for change truly for the sake of the people,” said Ms Paetongtarn, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
“The Pheu Thai Party, one of the nation’s major political parties, must be revamped… Change in the Pheu Thai 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.”
Although stepping down, Ms Paetongtarn affirmed she would remain “a member of the Pheu Thai Party, (and) the head of the Pheu Thai family and will together with all of us build a new era for the Pheu Thai Party.”
Former party secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong told reporters that Ms Paetongtarn had called a meeting of all party members and MPs to explain her reasons for resigning.
He described the move as a “sacrifice” to “save the party” and to prevent her personal story from being used as a “political tool.”
Mr Sorawong said petitions had been filed seeking the dissolution of the Pheu Thai Party following Ms Paetongtarn’s removal as prime minister by the Constitutional Court.
Her resignation, he added, was aimed at reducing political pressure and preventing rival parties from exploiting her case to cause defections.
He said the decision was part of the party’s broader revamp, with members now preparing to compete in the upcoming general election scheduled for March 2026.
Ms Paetongtarn will continue to serve as the “head of the Pheu Thai family,” remaining a central figure within the organisation.
The Pheu Thai Party’s popularity has plunged since the release of Ms Paetongtarn’s controversial phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen.
The Constitutional Court dismissed her from the premiership in late August for a serious ethical violation after she appeared to support Hun Sen’s position amid escalating border tensions.
Her dismissal and the subsequent loss of government control triggered a wave of resignations among key party figures and MPs, marking one of the most turbulent periods in the Pheu Thai Party’s recent history.
