On December 16, the Pheu Thai party announced a list of three prime minister candidates, including Yodchanan Wongsawat - Thaksin's nephew and son of former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
The remaining two candidates are Mr. Julapun Amornvivat - former Deputy Minister of Finance and now the leader of the party, and veteran politician Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
Thailand is scheduled to hold a general election on February 8, 2026, after the National Assembly was dissolved last week under the decision of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Investors are closely monitoring the election results, in the context of Thailand continuously experiencing political instability. Anutin is Thailand's third prime minister since the 2023 election.
By nominating Mr. Yodchanan, 46, currently an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Mahidol University, Bangkok as a candidate for prime minister, the Pheu Thai party is betting on the ability to maintain the support of farmers and rural voters, a group of voters who have long been loyal to the Shinawatra ethnic group, while expanding their appeal to young people in urban areas.
However, the political influence of the Shinawatra ethnic group has declined after the Pheu Thai and conservative agreements broke down in early 2025.
In addition to Thaksin, five other prime ministers who have been linked with the Shinawatra family or party groups behind Thaksin have been forced off office through court decisions or overturn.
In August, Mr. Thaksin's daughter, Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed from the position of prime minister by the court for violating the ethics related to the handling of the border dispute with Cambodia. Mr. Thaksin is currently serving a year in prison for his previous corruption case.
According to Thai election law, each political party is nominated for a maximum of 3 prime minister candidates before voting day. Only candidates from other parties who win at least 25 seats in the National Assembly are eligible to continue running for prime minister after the election.
The People's Party has nominated Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, along with two deputy leaders, Sirikanya Tansakun and Veerayooth Kanchoochat, as prime minister candidates.
More than 50 million Thai voters will elect 500 House of Representatives, including 400 elected unit lawmakers and 100 party-list lawmakers. After that, the elected members will vote to elect the prime minister.
