AP

Daughter of ex-Thai PM Thaksin outlines opposition’s vision

Dec 5, 2022, 1:02 PM | Updated: Dec 6, 2022, 3:12 am

The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra applaud...

The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra applauds after a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting to prepare for the next election in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)


              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra cheers with supporters during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra cheers with supporters during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra cheers with supporters during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              A supporter takes a selfie with the daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting to prepare for the next election in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra cheers with supporters during a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
            
              The daughter of Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra applauds after a Pheu Thai party general assembly meeting to prepare for the next election in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year's election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK (AP) — The daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra promised a new era of social equality on Tuesday, saying if her party is elected to power in next year’s election it will bring an end to poverty in the Southeast Asian nation.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra told supporters that if Thailand’s largest opposition party, Pheu Thai, wins in May people would see a marked change from the administration of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power in a military coup in 2014 and was then elected in 2019.

“The next four years will be the years that our country will bounce back and regain our dignity and pride,” she said. “To think big and act smart will help rebuild our country and improve the livelihood of Thai people – as if it’s a miracle. Only political stability will help us.”

Paetongtarn outlined a raft of proposals that she said would benefit ordinary Thais, including doubling the daily minimum wage, expanding health care coverage, and reducing fares on Bangkok’s public transportation system.

She did not provide details on how the party would accomplish its goals.

“All we have to do is to work together to change the country’s leadership,” she said.

The Pheu Thai party hasn’t yet announced who its candidate for prime minister will be, but Paetongtarn’s presence has drawn attention since she took a post with it last year as chief of its Inclusion and Innovation Advisory Committee.

The 36-year-old has said she is very close to her father, who remains popular in Thailand, and meets with him frequently.

Thaksin’s government was toppled in an earlier military-led coup in 2006 and he eventually went into self-imposed exile to avoid serving prison time in Thailand on corruption charges he maintains were politically motivated.

He’s widely thought to be seeking some sort of a political comeback and has been increasing his profile, and his daughter’s role with Pheu Thai seems to be an indication that his influence with the party is still strong.

The 73-year-old billionaire businessman’s populist policies won him strong electoral support, and his ouster gave rise to years of political instability.

He is a contentious figure whose fall set off a sometimes-violent struggle for power between his supporters and his opponents, who accused him of abuse of power and corruption. His supporters say the traditional Thai establishment feared losing power because of his popularity.

Paetongtarn, his youngest daughter, is just the latest from the family to become involved in Thai politics.

Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, served briefly as prime minister in 2008 and his youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, held the office from 2011 to 2014 before she was forced out of office, and then her government was ousted in the 2014 coup that brought then-army chief Prayuth to power.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

1 day ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

1 day ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

1 day ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

4 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

6 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

6 days ago

Daughter of ex-Thai PM Thaksin outlines opposition’s vision