A look at the "Prime Minister candidates": Who are the major parties fielding?
Following the announcement by the Election Commission of Thailand (EC) of the 2569 general election for members of the House of Representatives on February 8, 2569, coinciding with a referendum on constitutional amendments, the Thai political landscape has begun to shift significantly.
Political parties are in full swing, promoting their economic, social, and political policies, and introducing new party members ranging from prominent business figures to influencers entering the election arena for the first time. Amidst this enthusiasm, another issue being closely watched is the list of "prime minister candidates" that each party is preparing to field to lead the country.
As of December 29, 2568, the Election Commission stated that 34 political parties, totaling 73 individuals, had resolved to nominate candidates for the House of Representatives to consider and approve as Prime Minister (Prime Ministerial candidates).Check the list of prime ministerial candidates from various political parties here.)
The major political parties have officially announced their prime ministerial candidates as follows:
Pheu Thai Party
The Pheu Thai Party has nominated three candidates for prime minister.
1. Mr. Yotchanan Wongswasdi
Image from the Pheu Thai Party Facebook page.
Mr. Yotchanan Wongswasdi is the son of Somchai Wongswasdi and Yaowapa Wongswasdi. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, a Master of Engineering (MS) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, USA.
In his professional life, Mr. Yotsanu is currently a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University; Director of the Innovation and Technology Management Institute (iNT), Mahidol University; Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Innovation and Technology Management Institute (iNT), Mahidol University; and Vice President for Research, Mahidol University. In 2568, he was also appointed by the Cabinet as an expert committee member in the development of digital government (management and personnel).
While involved in politics, in 2557 he ran for election as a Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai Constituency 3 and won, but the election was invalidated due to disqualification, and therefore he did not hold the position of Member of Parliament.
2. Mr. Chulaphan Amornwiwat
Image from the Pheu Thai Party Facebook page.
Mr. Chulaphan Amornvivat, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Chulalongkorn University and a Master's degree in MBA from Boston College, USA.
In terms of work experience, he has served as Deputy Minister of Finance in the governments of Settha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as well as former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), and was a Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai Province in 2548, 2550, 2554, 2562, and 2566.
He is also a former member of the House of Representatives' Committee on Finance, Banking, and Financial Institutions, a former member of the House of Representatives' Committee on Economic Development, and a former member of the House of Representatives' Committee on Budget.
3. Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit
Image from the Pheu Thai Party Facebook page.
Mr. Suriya Jungrungruangkit, the Election Director of the Pheu Thai Party, holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of California, Berkeley, USA.
His work experience includes positions as Minister of Transport, Minister of Industry, Deputy Minister of Industry, Secretary-General of the Thai Rak Thai Party, as well as directors of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Public Company Limited, and Chairman of Summit Electronics Components Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Summit Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
People's Party
The People's Party has nominated three candidates for prime minister.
1. Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut
Image from election69.peoplesparty.or.th
Mr. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Chulalongkorn University. Before entering politics, he was an executive at Absolute Management Solutions Co., Ltd.
In the political arena, in the 2566 general election, he was elected as a Member of Parliament on the Move Forward Party's party-list system. He previously served as the Chair of the Education, Budget Preparation, and Monitoring Committee of the 26th House of Representatives. Following the dissolution of the Move Forward Party by the Constitutional Court in a similar case in 2567, he joined the People's Party on August 9th and serves as its leader.
2. Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul
Image from election69.peoplesparty.or.th
Ms. Sirikanya Tansakul holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Thammasat University. In terms of work experience, she has worked for the Thailand Future Foundation and the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).
He then entered politics at the invitation of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, joining the Future Forward Party as the director of policy and running as a candidate on the party's proportional representation list, ranked 15th. He was eventually elected as an MP for the first time and was subsequently elected as the chairperson of the Economic Development Committee of the 25th House of Representatives.
After the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, she joined the Move Forward Party and was selected as the party's deputy leader and head of the party's economic team.
3. Mr. Veerayuth Kanchuchat
Image from election69.peoplesparty.or.th
Mr. Veerayut Kanchuchat, Deputy Leader of the People's Party in charge of political strategy and policy advisor, holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Economics from Chulalongkorn University, and a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
He holds the position of Associate Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), teaching and conducting research on industrial policy, East Asian development, and Thai political economy. Regarding his political experience, he was invited by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to join the Future Forward Party. After the party's dissolution, he joined the Move Forward Party, becoming one of the seven members of the Move Forward Party's economic team. Following the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, he joined the People's Party and was subsequently appointed deputy leader.
Pride Thai Party
The Bhumjaithai Party has nominated two candidates for prime minister.
1. Mr. Anutin Chanvirakul
Image from the Bhumjaithai Party Facebook page.
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, the 32nd Prime Minister of Thailand, graduated from Worcester Academy, Massachusetts, USA; holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Hofstra University, New York, USA; and a Mini MBA from Thammasat University. He also receives honorary doctorates in Civil Engineering from Ramkhamhaeng University, Business Administration (Management) from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Public Administration (Philosophy) from Western University, Management (Philosophy) from Srinakharinwirot University, Economics (Arts) from the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, and Public Health (Public Health) from the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Institute, Ministry of Public Health.
In terms of work experience, he previously served as General Manager of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Public Company Limited since 2538 and played a significant role in large-scale construction projects, particularly the Suvarnabhumi Airport construction project.
He entered politics in 2539 as a member of the Thai Rak Thai Party. He served as an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Commerce, and Deputy Minister of Public Health. After being disqualified from politics for 5 years, he returned in 2555 to join the Bhumjaithai Party and succeeded his father as party leader. In 2562, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health in General Prayut Chan-o-cha's second cabinet.
Later, in 2566, he was appointed Minister of Interior in the cabinet of Setha Vejjajiva, concurrently holding the position of Deputy Prime Minister. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister during the government of Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In 2568, he reached an agreement with the People's Party and received support to become Prime Minister, forming a minority government. He was then officially appointed Prime Minister by royal decree.
2. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew
Image from the Bhumjaithai Party Facebook page.
Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkaew holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science (International Relations) from Chulalongkorn University and a Master of Arts (International Public Policy) from Johns Hopkins University, USA. He subsequently served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding several important positions including Ambassador to Paris, France; Ambassador to Tokyo, Japan; and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva.
His past roles include serving as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) from 2553 to 2554, and as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2556 to 2557. He also served as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2557 during the political crisis.
Upon entering politics in 2566, he was appointed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Settha Thavisin, and in 2568, during the government of Anutin Charnvirakul, he was nominated to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Democratic Party
The Democrat Party has nominated three candidates for prime minister.
1. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva
Image from Facebook, Democrat Party, Thailand.
Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand, holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University and a Bachelor's degree in Law from Ramkhamhaeng University. He also earned a Master's degree with honors in Economics from Oxford University in England and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Ramkhamhaeng University.
In terms of work experience, he has served as a lecturer at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, a visiting lecturer at the University of Oxford in England, and a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University.
In terms of political experience, in 2535 he ran for Member of Parliament for the first time under the Democrat Party and was elected as the youngest member of that House of Representatives. He was also the only Democrat Party member elected from a constituency in Bangkok. After that, he served as the Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office.
In 1995, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the third time and was chosen as the Chairman of the House of Representatives' Education Committee. The Democrat Party appointed him as their spokesperson, and he served as Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office under Chuan Leekpai. There, he was responsible for overseeing the Board of Investment and the Office of the National Education Commission, as well as policy work on civil service reform and decentralization. His significant achievement was chairing the committee reviewing the National Education Act of 1999.
In 2008, while serving his second term as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, a political event occurred: the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the People's Power Party, leading to Somchai Wongsawat's removal as Prime Minister. Some political groups that had supported the People's Power Party then joined forces with the Democrat Party, resulting in Abhisit receiving a majority of votes in the House of Representatives and becoming the 27th Prime Minister. Later, in 2011, he assumed the position of Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives for the third time.
2. Mr. Korn Chatikavanij
Image from Facebook, Democrat Party, Thailand.
Mr. Korn Chatikavanij graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford, England. He began his career as a fund manager at SG Warburg & Co., England.
He subsequently co-founded and served as the president of JF Thanakom Securities Co., Ltd. in Thailand, and later became the managing director of JF Thanakom Securities Co., Ltd. He subsequently sold all of his shares in JF Thanakom to JP Morgan Chase and accepted an offer to become the president of JP Morgan Thailand.
He entered politics in 2548 at the invitation of Abhisit Vejjajiva and was elected as a Member of Parliament for Bangkok under the Democrat Party in the 2548 election. He also served as Shadow Minister of Finance, overseeing the performance of the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat governments.
His past includes serving as chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Finance, Fiscal Affairs, and Financial Institutions for two terms, and as Minister of Finance in 2008. Afterward, in 2020, he resigned from the Democrat Party to form the Kla Party. In 2022, he joined forces with Suwat Liptapallop and the Chart Pattana Party, which subsequently changed its name to Chart Pattana Kla Party. In 2023, he resigned from the Chart Pattana Kla Party.
3. Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj
Image from Facebook, Democrat Party, Thailand.
Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University (SIIT), a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
In terms of work experience, she has held positions as Managing Director of C ASEAN, Director of the Future Institute of Thailand, and currently serves as Chief Foresight Officer at FutureTales Lab.
Palang Pracharath Party
The Palang Pracharath Party has nominated two candidates for prime minister.
1. Ms. Treenuch Thianthong
Image from Facebook, Treenuch Thienthong.
Ms. Treenuch Thianthong holds a Bachelor's degree from Assumption University, a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Western Illinois University, USA, and a Master's degree in Economics from Western Illinois University, USA.
In terms of work experience, she has held positions as a Credit Officer at Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Assistant General Manager at SPT Civil Group Ltd., Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Education (Dr. Sirikorn Manirin), Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Mr. Chucheep Hansawat), Advisor to the Minister of Social Development and Human Security (Mr. Saroat Klinprathum), Treasurer of the Executive Committee of the National Unit in the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Union (APPU), Assistant Secretary of the Tourism Committee, Spokesperson of the Tourism Committee, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare (Ms. Ladawan Wongsiwong), Member of Parliament for Sa Kaeo Province for 5 terms, and most recently, Minister of Education.
2. M.L. Korkasivath Kasemsri
Image from the Facebook page of the Palang Pracharath Party.
M.L. Korkasivath Kasemsri graduated with a degree in Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from California State University, USA, and a Master of Arts from Chulalongkorn University. He began his career at Ayutthaya JF Asset Management and later served as Assistant Secretary-General of the Government Pension Fund (GPF). Currently, he holds a position on the party's executive committee.
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