Thaksin family scion is top choice for Thai leadership, poll shows

In this photo released by the Pheu Thai Party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra delivers a speech during annual Pheu Thai Party meeting in Khon Kaen province northeastern of Thailand. - AP

BANGKOK, Dec 25 (Bloomberg): Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra, emerged as voters’ top choice to lead the South-East Asian nation ahead of the next general election tentatively scheduled in May, according to an opinion poll.

Paetongtarn, who is widely tipped to be the prime minister candidate of the nation’s largest opposition party Pheu Thai, got 34% backing of 2,000 respondents aged 18 and above in a quarterly survey by the National Institute of Development Administration.