Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s party, is the only Thai politician to be included on the TIME100 Next 2025 list, in the "leader" category.
TIME100 Next is an annual list of one hundred emerging figures who are leading and shaping the future, including rising stars, political leaders, innovators and influential people from around the world.
Describing Natthaphong as a new champion of the youth-led democratic movement in the country, Charlie Campbell, an editor at large at TIME, wrote “many young Thais hope that Natthaphong can make the leap to the country’s top job.”
Campbell said Natthaphong, as the leader of the opposition, represents a new hope for Thailand’s democratic movement, tracing back to when it tried to challenge the nation’s military-aligned elites.
“Our vision is to reform politics, the economy and reduce social inequality… We have to bring full democracy to our country,” Natthaphong told TIME.
Former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made TIME100 Next 2024, while Pita Limjaroenrat, former leader of the Move Forward Party, was on the 2023 list.
The selection of the TIME100 Next is led by TIME editors, with contributions from TIME journalists worldwide. The TIME100 Next is usually published in the second half of the year, typically around September or October.
