BANGKOK: The youngest daughter of billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains Thailand’s top choice to become its next leader, according to an opinion poll, with more than double the score of incumbent and nearest rival Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, whose father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck both led popularly elected governments toppled in coups, was the top choice for 34pc of respondents in a survey by the Nat­ional Institute of Develo­pment Administration (NIDA).

Paetongtarn’s support rose sharply from 21.6pc from a September poll, when the majority surveyed were undecided. NIDA polled 2,000 voting-age people betw­een Dec 17 and Dec 22. Thailand must hold an election by May next year, according to its election commission, but no date has yet been set.

Best known by her nickname, “Ung Ing”, Paetongtarn is an executive in the Pheu Thai party, which has yet to name her as its prime minister candidate.

The Shinawatra name has proven to be a huge election draw in Thailand since 2001, synonymous with populist policies that won Thaksin, Yingluck and their allies tens of millions of votes from the rural poor and urban working classes in ballots between 2001 and 2011.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2022