Ink Paethongtarn, accompanied by her husband, visited former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and conveyed a message of support for Yotsanan Wongsawat, the Pheu Thai Party's candidate for prime minister, noting that they both entered politics at roughly the same age.
At 09:40 on 18 Dec 2025 GMT+7, at Klong Prem Central Prison on Ngamwongwan Road, Lat Yao Subdistrict, Chatuchak District, Bangkok. Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra head of the Pheu Thai family and former Prime Minister, along with her husband Mr. Pitak Suksawat, arrived for a visit. Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, at Klong Prem Central Prison. This was the 26th visit since his detention reached three months on 9 Dec 2025.
Later, at 10:30, Ms. Paethongtarn and Mr. Pitak left the prison after visiting Thaksin. When reporters asked if Thaksin had discussed the introduction of Prof. Dr. Yotsanan Wongsawat, also known as Dr. Chen, the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate, Ms. Paethongtarn said there had been a conversation, and her father mentioned that the candidate entered politics at age 46, which is about the same age as he did, and he sent his encouragement to the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate. Afterward, Ms. Paethongtarn and Mr. Pitak greeted supporters before getting into their car to depart.
Additional reporting notes that Prof. Dr. Yotsanan Wongsawat was born on 8 Oct 1979 and is currently a professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University. He is the first-ranked prime ministerial candidate for Pheu Thai in the 8 Feb 2026 election. Thaksin Shinawatra began his full political career in 1994 at about age 45 after leaving business. He was introduced by Gen. Chamlong Srimuang, serving as Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, who replaced Gen. Chamlong as leader of the Palang Dharma Party, and later as Deputy Prime Minister in Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa’s government. On 14 Jul 1998, he founded the Thai Rak Thai Party and became its leader, eventually becoming Prime Minister on 9 Feb 2001.