With Thaksin jailed, Thailand’s Pheu Thai turns to nephew in poll fight back

(Reuters)

BANGKOK, Dec 17 – With general elections just months away and its billionaire patriarch in prison, Thailand’s 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 Thai’s leading candidate for the top job in the February 8 general election.

“I’m the very small guy, but I’m 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.

Thaksin’s 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 Cambodia’s 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.