Pheu Thai is poised to sweep at least 200 MPs in the upcoming general election, according to Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the newly appointed party election director.
Mr Suriya was speaking during an event at Pheu Thai headquarters, “Reinventing Pheu Thai, Reinventing Thailand”, in which key members expressed their readiness for the poll slated in the coming months while 193 MP candidates nationwide were unveiled.
Mr Suriya, a former deputy prime minister and transport minister, who was appointed to be in charge of the election race during the event, said he has been with the party since 2001, when it was named Thai Rak Thai.
He said he was confident the party could win at least 200 seats during the next election because the public support for the People’s Party (PP) had stumbled after it backed Anutin Charnvirakul as the new prime minister.
He pointed to PP’s social media posts that once drew around 80,000 likes, saying they now struggle to reach 10,000 and also said Pheu Thai’s candidates are direct rivals to the PP’s.
“With the PP’s popularity declining, we will gain more seats,” he said.
He estimated the PP would win just under 100 seats, while Bhumjaithai, recently boosted by defectors, could gain 120 from its current 70.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the party’s leader and former prime minister, also delivered a keynote speech at the event, reflecting on the recent setbacks, including the imprisonment of her father, Thaksin, and a by-election win.
“Every hardship teaches us to rise stronger,” she said. “The strong dose we are given today will transform us back to the greatness we once held during the Thai Rak Thai Period.”
“Many said Pheu Thai has come to an end. But we have not,” she said.
Ms Paetongtarn also said the list of the three prime ministerial candidates will be revealed at the proper time.
“Their names will be Thailand’s hope,” she said, adding that the three candidates are not associated with her family.
She pointed out that the party’s structural overhaul will create unity, transparency and real participation.
Ms Paetongtarn also referred to the Young Pheu Thai Platform and the Moonshot Forum, which brainstorm ideas from young people and experts, providing input into the drafting of the policy platform.