BANGKOK: Thailand’s recently removed prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resigned Wednesday as leader of the party founded by her father, ex-premier Thaksin, signaling the potential end of the family’s decades-long political dynasty.
Paetongtarn, 39, served less than a year as prime minister before being sacked by a court in August over an ethics breach related to her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
The Shinawatra clan has for two decades been the key foe of Thailand’s pro-military, pro-royalty elite who view their populist brand of politics as a threat to the traditional social order.
But the Shinawatra dynasty has faced a series of legal and political setbacks, including the jailing of 76-year-old Thaksin this year for corruption during his time in office.
The Pheu Thai party announced Paetongtarn’s resignation in a statement on Wednesday, quoting her as saying the move would allow the party to “undergo a complete overhaul.”
