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The head of the opposition in parliament, Natthaphong
Ruengpanyawut, said Paetongtarn had failed to address many of
the country’s chronic problems including the slumping economy,
air pollution, crimes and corruption. He said her administration
was serving the interests of her family and her father, former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a popular but highly
controversial political figure.
Paetongtarn heads the Pheu Thai Party, the latest in a string of
populist parties affiliated with Thaksin, who was ousted in a
2006 military coup, fled into exile and recently returned to
Thailand. Thaksin has been at the heart of nearly two decades of
deep political divisions pitting a mostly poor, rural majority
that supported him against royalists, the military and their
urban backers, who accuse him of threatening their status and
that of the revered monarchy.
Natthapong is the leader of the People’s Party, a resurrection
of the progressive, reformist Move Forward Party, which took the
most seats in the general election in 2023 but failed to take
power due to strong opposition from the conservative
establishment, and was ordered dissolved.
Natthapong said the formation of the ruling coalition, which saw
Pheu Thai partner with its former conservative rivals, was part
of the political bargain to bring Thaksin home.
Paetongtarn was also accused by Prawit Wongsuwan, head of the
Palang Pracharath Party, Pheu Thai’s former coalition partner,
of falsely declaring her assets, which she denied.
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