Pheu Thai’s new party leader shares big soft power promotion plans

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of jailed former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, chaired the meeting at the party headquarters. She was elected as party leader on October 27.

Also attending was Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who said he plans to announce details of the party’s digital wallet scheme on Friday.

The premier also asked Pheu Thai MPs to convey details of the scheme via social media. The government led by Pheu Thai plans to hand out 10,000 baht via a digital wallet to all Thais aged 16 and above. However, Srettha plans to announce details and criteria on Friday.

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai also reported the work his ministry has done with farmers so far.

Paetongtarn, meanwhile, told fellow Pheu Thai members that she discussed her pet project – soft power – with representatives from

South Korea, the United States and the United Nations. She said she was seeking advice on how best to promote Thai culture and products as soft power.

She said she also discussed the option of more Thai students studying in the US as part of a student exchange programme.

She said Thai students can learn filmmaking skills in Hollywood, but travelling there will require a huge amount of money. Hence, she asked the US delegation to look for ways to help Thai students cover expenses.

She added that promoting Thai soft power required the promotion of Thai products in 11 industries, including films, television series, books and games to name a few.

She added that the Pheu Thai-led government wants to reskill Thais, so each family can create products in line with the party’s One Family One Soft Power (OFOS) policy.

She also urged MPs to have their aides disseminate information on the party’s achievements so far.

At the end of the meeting, all attendees were given cloth bags with a screen printing of Paetongtarn and Srettha’s mugshots along with the words “Pheu Thai’s Heart is the People”.