Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party names former PM's daughter as new leader

BANGKOK -- Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party on Friday named Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its new leader.

"The Pheu Thai Party will continue its important mission to improve the people's quality of life as we have done for the past 25 years," Paetongtarn told the party's general meeting after being elected unopposed along with a new board of executives.

The party will focus on driving digital transformation, increasing participation in the party's decision-making, and developing policies to cope with rapid global changes, she said.

Following this year's election, the Pheu Thai Party led a multi-party alliance to form the new government with its candidate Srettha Thavisin elected as the Southeast Asian kingdom's new prime minister.

Paetongtarn was one of the party's three prime ministerial candidates in the May general elections. She stepped into Thailand's political arena two years ago and has been appointed leader of the "Pheu Thai Family" since March last year.

The 37-year-old is the youngest daughter of Thaksin, who served as Thailand's premier from 2001 to 2006 but had been in self-exile abroad since 2008.

Thaksin was sentenced to eight years in jail over convictions upon returning to the kingdom in August. His prison term was reduced to one year after his request for a royal pardon was granted.