With Thaksin jailed, Thailands Pheu Thai turns to nephew in poll fight back

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Yodchanan Wongsawat, a prime ministerial candidate from Pheu Thai party, poses during an interview with Reuters, at the party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, December 16, 2025. REUTERS/Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK, Dec 17 - With general elections just months away and its billionaire patriarch in prison, Thailands embattled Pheu Thai party is turning to another member of the divisive Shinawatra family with little experience in politics to help mount a comeback.

Yodchanan Wongsawat, 46, the nephew and son of former prime ministers, is ‍Pheu ​Thais leading candidate for the top job in the February 8 general election.

Im the very small ‍guy, but Im on the shoulder of a giant, said Yodchanan, referring to the Shinawatra family, which has yielded four prime ministers in two decades, including his uncle, Thaksin ​Shinawatra and father, ​Somchai Wongsawat.

A dominating figure in contemporary Thai politics, Thaksin was jailed for one year in September for avoiding an initial prison sentence for conflict of interest and abuse of power while he was prime minister from 2001-2006.

Thaksins daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was ousted as prime minister by a court order ‍in August over a leaked June telephone call, during which she appeared to kowtow to Cambodias powerful former leader Hun Sen - until recently a close ​Shinawatra family ally - when both countries were on the brink of ⁠an armed conflict. Fighting erupted weeks later and flared up again on December 8.

Pheu Thais support has nosedived during the upheaval, and this month polled at only 11.04%