Yongyuth becomes new Pheu Thai leader

"We will separate the party's executives from the country's executives. Unlike other parties, we don't allow our party's executives to run the country," the new leader said.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's sister Yinglak had been tipped to be the new party leader.

Former premier Somchai Wongsawat and his wife Yaowapa observed the voting in the morning for the new executive board at the party's headquarters.

The party voted unanimously for the same number of 13 seats before selecting the new board members. The party's executive board comprises low-profile and non-MP figures. No big names will be affected if the party is caught up in another dissolution storm.

Yongyuth was the only candidate. He was nominated by acting party registrar Kamol Bandaiphet.

Yinglak, who was sitting in the front row, seemed surprised that she was not fielded.

She got up and walked to the back of the room to talk to a party member after her name was not put forward.

Realising that reporters were watching them, she and the party member went immediately into a room behind the meeting hall.