BANGKOK, THAILAND – Veteran powerbroker Prawit Wongsuwan confirmed his bid to become Thailand’s next prime minister as his party moved to reshape its leadership ahead of possible early elections.
Prawit secures backing for premiership bid
On 29 November 2025, Prawit Wongsuwan received overwhelming support from the Palang Pracharath Party during a dramatic faction meeting.
“The party stands firmly behind him,”
said an insider. The 79‑year‑old political veteran, a former defence minister and key figure as deputy prime minister in the previous government, now aimed for the top office, with a general election possibly taking place as early as February 2026.
Leadership shake-up inside Palang Pracharath
Alongside his nomination, the party carried out a surprise reshuffle of senior posts. Trinuch Thienthong was appointed the new secretary-general, replacing Paibul Nititawan, who was demoted to deputy party leader. Party officials also announced a tactical shift in campaign strategy, stating,
“We will not contest all 400 constituencies,”
a move whose consequences remained unclear.
Old wounds from party split linger
Palang Pracharath still bore the scars of internal power struggles. Thammanat Prompao, the influential Klatham leader, had broken away with about half of the party’s MPs, who then joined the Bhumjaithai-led coalition, and Thammanat became deputy prime minister, remaining a visible sore point for Prawit. Official voices insisted,
“The party is more united today than ever before,”
yet memories of the split continued to weigh on the organisation.
Rival camps reposition ahead of polls
The broader political landscape in Bangkok also shifted. Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was considering a separate run for office without coalition partners, while many Democrat MPs from the south were looking to defect to Bhumjaithai or the Klatham coalition. A political observer predicted far-reaching consequences, stating,
“The map of power will change fundamentally,”
as long-standing alliances appeared to crumble.
Talk of House dissolution and early election
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was weighing a dissolution of the House of Representatives as early as next month, a decision that would trigger new elections within 60 days. Analysts viewed this as a tactical manoeuvre designed to avoid a planned no-confidence debate by the opposition. A constitutional expert warned of the stakes ahead, saying,
“February 2026 could decide Thailand’s fate,”
as the country moved into an intense campaign over who would shape its political future.