For Thais Party
Encyclopedia
The Pheu Thai Party is the third iteration of a Thai political party originally founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
. The Pheu Thai Party was founded on 20 September 2008, as an anticipated replacement for the People's Power Party
(PPP), which Constitutional Court of Thailand
dissolved less than three months later after finding party members guilty of electoral fraud. The People's Power Party was itself a replacement for Thaksin's original Thai Rak Thai
(TRT) party which the Constitutional Court dissolved in May 2007 for violation of electoral laws.
on 2 December 2008. On 3 December 2008, the majority of the former PPP MPs defected to the Pheu Thai Party. In a PTP general assembly, the first executive commission was elected on 7 December 2008. The candidates for the party's leader were: Yongyuth Wichaidit
, Apiwan Wiriyachai, former Vice President of the House of Representatives
, former health minister Chalerm Ubumrung
and former industry minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan. Yongyuth Wichaidit was elected as the party's leader.
In a December 2008 parliamentary session MPs of five PPP coalition parties decided to endorse Abhisit Vejjajiva
as the next prime minister and themselves forming a Democrat
-led coalition. The PTP campaigned for their endorsement by the PPP-coalition parties. However, Abhisit had gained their support for the premiership. After that, the party called for a national unity government in which all parties would be involved, with Sanoh Thienthong of the Royalist People's Party
as the new premier. This proposal was rejected by the defecting coalition parties and the Democrat Party. On 11 December, Worrawat Eua-apinyakul, then MP for Phrae
from PTP, suggested that the party should push for a house dissolution and general elections, with the hope of depriving the prospective coalition of a parliamentary majority. However, The President of the House of Representatives; Chai Chidchob
spoke against the plan.
On 15 December 2008, the party elected Pracha Promnok as the party's candidate for prime minister and has since been in opposition to prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition government. As an opposition, the party received a rating of 3.75 out of 10 by a majority of respondents in a nationwide survey conducted on 24 and 25 December 2010, by Bangkok University
.
In early May Jarupong Ruangsuwan was named new Secretary general of the party.
was nominated head of PTP's party-list proportional representation
and contender of prime minister Abhisit. One of her main issues in campaign was national reconciliation. The election was expected to be a neck-and-neck between Pheu Thai and the ruling Democrats. Unexpectedly, the party won 265 of 500 seats in the House of Representatives on 3 July. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
acknowledged Pheu Thai's success in the election, and congratulated Yingluck Shinawatra as Thailand's first female prime minister. Despite its absolute majority, the winning party announced to form a coalition government with five minor parties. On 5 August, Yingluck was elected prime minister with 296 votes in favour. The election was approved and Yingluck was formally appointed by the king on 8 August.
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
. The Pheu Thai Party was founded on 20 September 2008, as an anticipated replacement for the People's Power Party
People's Power Party (Thailand)
The People's Power Party was a Thai political party founded on November 9, 1998 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Garn Tienkaew. The party leader was Somchai Wongsawat, the Party Secretary General was Surapong Suebwonglee, and the Party Spokesperson was Kuthep Saikrajarng...
(PPP), which Constitutional Court of Thailand
Constitutional Court of Thailand
The Constitutional Court of Thailand is an independent Thai court originally established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding...
dissolved less than three months later after finding party members guilty of electoral fraud. The People's Power Party was itself a replacement for Thaksin's original Thai Rak Thai
Thai Rak Thai
The Thai Rak Thai Party was a Thai political party that was officially banned on May 30, 2007, by the Constitutional Court of Thailand due to violations of electoral laws during the 2006 legislative elections. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under Prime Minister and its founder Thaksin...
(TRT) party which the Constitutional Court dissolved in May 2007 for violation of electoral laws.
Foundation and Opposition years (2008-2011)
The PPP was dissolved by the Constitutional Court of ThailandConstitutional Court of Thailand
The Constitutional Court of Thailand is an independent Thai court originally established under the 1997 Constitution with jurisdiction over the constitutionality of parliamentary acts, royal decrees, draft legislation, as well as the appointment and removal of public officials and issues regarding...
on 2 December 2008. On 3 December 2008, the majority of the former PPP MPs defected to the Pheu Thai Party. In a PTP general assembly, the first executive commission was elected on 7 December 2008. The candidates for the party's leader were: Yongyuth Wichaidit
Yongyuth Wichaidit
Yongyuth Wichaidit is a Thai politician and high-rank public servant. Currently, he is the chairman of the Pheu Thai Party which is the main governing party, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.Yongyuth served as deputy minister of interior,...
, Apiwan Wiriyachai, former Vice President of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
, former health minister Chalerm Ubumrung
Chalerm Ubumrung
Police Captain Dr. Chalerm Ubumrung , is a Thai politician. He is a Member of Parliament representing the Pheu Thai Party, and currently one of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Yingluck Shinawatra...
and former industry minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan. Yongyuth Wichaidit was elected as the party's leader.
In a December 2008 parliamentary session MPs of five PPP coalition parties decided to endorse Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
as the next prime minister and themselves forming a Democrat
Democrat Party (Thailand)
The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...
-led coalition. The PTP campaigned for their endorsement by the PPP-coalition parties. However, Abhisit had gained their support for the premiership. After that, the party called for a national unity government in which all parties would be involved, with Sanoh Thienthong of the Royalist People's Party
Royalist People's Party
The Royalist People's Party is a populist political party in Thailand.The party was established and registered at the Electoral Commission on February 10, 2006, by Sanoh Thienthong, former Thai Rak Thai party chairman....
as the new premier. This proposal was rejected by the defecting coalition parties and the Democrat Party. On 11 December, Worrawat Eua-apinyakul, then MP for Phrae
Phrae Province
Phrae is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Lampang.-Geography:Phrae is located in the valley of the river Yom.-History:...
from PTP, suggested that the party should push for a house dissolution and general elections, with the hope of depriving the prospective coalition of a parliamentary majority. However, The President of the House of Representatives; Chai Chidchob
Chai Chidchob
Chai Chidchob has been the President of the National Assembly of Thailand and the Speaker of the House of Representatives since May 15, 2008. He began his career in politics by being appointed as a kamnan in Buri Ram Province and became known by many locals as "Kamnan Chai".His first experience in...
spoke against the plan.
On 15 December 2008, the party elected Pracha Promnok as the party's candidate for prime minister and has since been in opposition to prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition government. As an opposition, the party received a rating of 3.75 out of 10 by a majority of respondents in a nationwide survey conducted on 24 and 25 December 2010, by Bangkok University
Bangkok University
Bangkok University is the oldest and largest private university in Thailand, established 1962. Located in the central business district of Bangkok, the university expanded its operation to Rangsit campus in Pathumthani province to accommodate its rapid growth....
.
In early May Jarupong Ruangsuwan was named new Secretary general of the party.
Pheu Thai in Government
In 2011 general election, Pheu Thai Party contested for the first time since its foundation. On 16 May Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck ShinawatraYingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra , or nickname Pu , is a Thai businesswoman and politician, member of the Pheu Thai Party, and the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand following the 2011 general election...
was nominated head of PTP's party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation
Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems emphasizing proportional representation in elections in which multiple candidates are elected...
and contender of prime minister Abhisit. One of her main issues in campaign was national reconciliation. The election was expected to be a neck-and-neck between Pheu Thai and the ruling Democrats. Unexpectedly, the party won 265 of 500 seats in the House of Representatives on 3 July. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
acknowledged Pheu Thai's success in the election, and congratulated Yingluck Shinawatra as Thailand's first female prime minister. Despite its absolute majority, the winning party announced to form a coalition government with five minor parties. On 5 August, Yingluck was elected prime minister with 296 votes in favour. The election was approved and Yingluck was formally appointed by the king on 8 August.
External links
- Formal Party web-site
- Thailand's July Election: Understanding the Outcome, Q&A with Catharin Dalpino (July 2011)