Introducing Julaphan Amornwiwat, leader of the Pheu Thai Party and prime ministerial candidate, preparing to contest the next election. He vows to ensure the people have food, income, dignity, and pride, stating that only the Pheu Thai Party can deliver this.
On 16 December 2025, reporters reported that the Pheu Thai Party held an event to reveal the three prime ministerial candidates of the Pheu Thai Party. They are Professor Dr. Yossanan Wongsawat, , Mr. Julaphan Amornwiwat, and Mr. Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Along with presenting their visions. Regarding Mr. Julaphan, on 31 October 2025, at the Pheu Thai Party’s extraordinary annual general meeting to elect the new party leader and executive committee, following the resignation of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra as party leader, the meeting resolved to elect Mr. Julaphan as the new party leader with 354 votes in favor, 15 abstentions, out of 369 eligible voters.
Mr. Julaphan Amornwiwat, a party list MP for Pheu Thai, nicknamed “Nim,” was born on 8 April 1975. He is currently 50 years old and is the son of Mr. Sompong Amornwiwat, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Pheu Thai leader, and Mrs. Petchri (Techapaiboon) Amornwiwat. His father recently resigned from Pheu Thai membership, feeling disappointed over internal party issues.
Regarding education, Julaphan earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Chulalongkorn University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University, USA. He married Ms. Wisaradee Techateerawut, nicknamed Yim, on 9 February 2010. She is currently an MP for Chiang Rai under the Pheu Thai Party.
Ms. Wisaradee is also the daughter of Mr. Wisara Techateerawut, former Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai. Wisaradee once said she and Julaphan have a six-year age difference. Initially, she was uninterested because she saw him as an aide to her father, who was Deputy Minister of Interior. However, her parents said he was a good person, so she opened her heart. They now have a daughter named Natcha.
Julaphan’s political path He was first elected as Chiang Mai MP in 2005 under the Thai Rak Thai Party. After the party was dissolved, he joined the People Power Party and later Pheu Thai. He has been continuously elected for five terms. Currently, he serves as a party list MP and deputy leader of Pheu Thai. He has played a key role in debating the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha. When Pheu Thai led the government formation, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance under Prime Ministers Srettha Thavisin and Paethongtarn Shinawatra. He chaired the subcommittee overseeing the 10,000 baht digital wallet top-up project. Upon the party's renewal, he was elected as the new party leader.
Julaphan is considered a new-generation figure within Pheu Thai. His mission as the new leader is to bridge generations within the party and prepare for the upcoming election, which is a primary task alongside parliamentary duties.
Today (16 December), Julaphan Amornwiwat shared his vision as Pheu Thai’s prime ministerial candidate, saying that since he was honored with the party leadership on 31 October, in just over a month, they have demonstrated change with rapid, proactive communication. Their parliamentary work is vigorous and serious in oversight. The strategic committee includes members of all genders and ages, listening to academics and the real voices of the people. All this has been achieved by everyone. For 25 years, Pheu Thai has never abandoned the people.
Standing here today as Pheu Thai leader, he told everyone that the party is ready to overhaul itself for a greater mission: to overhaul Thailand. Julaphan Amornwiwat, Pheu Thai leader and prime ministerial candidate, aims to build a better tomorrow by establishing savings security, debt relief, and new income sources. The definition of the people in a democratic society is security, freedom, and opportunity. This aligns with Pheu Thai’s philosophy: ensuring people have food, income, dignity, and pride.
His aspiration is for all Thai people to be free from poverty with improved quality of life. He proposed two urgent policies to be implemented immediately. The first is the retirement lottery, to be realized within the first three months of government. This transforms gambling into a form of security, turning short-term hopes into long-term stability. The second urgent policy is debt relief for Thai citizens, including informal debt, non-performing loans, farmers facing price volatility and natural disasters, the elderly retirees, aiming for a stable aging society, as well as good debtors.
“Economic figures alone cannot reflect the hardships, inequality, and difficulties faced by the people. Pheu Thai will build a better tomorrow. Pheu Thai must ensure that the people have food, income, dignity, and pride. I reiterate: this is the definition of the people in a democratic system. Only Pheu Thai can overhaul Thailand. I, Julaphan Amornwiwat, leader of Pheu Thai and prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai,” he said.
