For the Motherland
Encyclopedia
Motherland Party was a Thai
political party founded on September 11, 2007, by more than 200 politicians including defectors from the Thai Rak Thai Party
(TRT). Before the general election 2011, it merged with the National Development Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party. The Puea Pandin Party had a platform with progressive
economic policies. In a further general election, the party expected to become a third party, independent of the Thaksin
-backed For Thais Party
, and the current prime minister's
Democrat Party
. Its most notable members included Thaksin's former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai
, Suranand Vejjajiva and Preecha Laohaphongchana and notably it was composed of both former TRT members and former TRT opponents. Since former TRT executive members have been banned from politics for five years, a non-former TRT member led the party in the 2007 election
. Suwit Khunkitti and Watchara Punnachet have been elected party leader and party secretary general respectively. The party appointed Vatana Asavahame as the party chairman, and Police General Pracha Promnok as party chief adviser. General Panlop Pinmanee, adviser to the Internal Security Command Operation, accepted to become adviser to the party, overseeing security.
On October 28, 2007, the party had formed its finance and tourism team. The finance team consists in the form of the party's Academic Council, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister, Surakiart Sathirathai
. Members included former Governor of the Bank of Thailand Vijit Supinich, former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Supachai Pisitvanit, former Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Bunpod Hongthong and Finance specialists Vichien Techapaiboon and Nithit Pukkanasud. Although Surakiart Sathirathai
was one of 111 TRT executives banned from politics for five years, he said that the party's Academic Council only provides policy guidelines and is not part of the political party. The tourism team was led by former Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan and former senators Suradej Yasawat and Jirayu Vasurut. All three were also deputy party leaders. Their main policy was to make Thailand a hub for tourism with expected earnings of 1.33 trillion baht in 2011.
Three days before the December 23, 2007 general election
, deputy party leader Juthamas Siriwan resigned from the party amidst a bribery scandal stemming from her tenure as governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and president of the Bangkok International Film Festival
.
Let it be noted that Suwit Khunkitti could not even muster enough votes to be elected for
his Khonkoen contiutency and only made it back into the house as a list MP.
At the end of the 2007-2011 term, 12 of the 32 Puea Pandin MPs had joined the Bhumjaithai Party, three had defected to Pheu Thai, two to the Democrats
, two to Chartthaipattana, and one each to Matubhum
and Tankun Pandin. The remaining nine representatives joined forces with their National Development Party colleagues and formed the new Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
political party founded on September 11, 2007, by more than 200 politicians including defectors from the Thai Rak Thai Party
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). Before the general election 2011, it merged with the National Development Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party. The Puea Pandin Party had a platform with progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
economic policies. In a further general election, the party expected to become a third party, independent of the Thaksin
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....
-backed For Thais Party
For Thais Party
The Pheu Thai Party is the third iteration of a Thai political party originally founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra...
, and the current prime minister's
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...
Democrat Party
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...
. Its most notable members included Thaksin's former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai was, until September 19 2006, a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand overseeing Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture.-Family and early career:...
, Suranand Vejjajiva and Preecha Laohaphongchana and notably it was composed of both former TRT members and former TRT opponents. Since former TRT executive members have been banned from politics for five years, a non-former TRT member led the party in the 2007 election
Thai general election, 2007
The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections...
. Suwit Khunkitti and Watchara Punnachet have been elected party leader and party secretary general respectively. The party appointed Vatana Asavahame as the party chairman, and Police General Pracha Promnok as party chief adviser. General Panlop Pinmanee, adviser to the Internal Security Command Operation, accepted to become adviser to the party, overseeing security.
2007 election
Motherland Party leader Suwit Khunkitti vowed to win more than 60 seats in Parliament and promised to implement nine policies to improve the state of the Thai economy.On October 28, 2007, the party had formed its finance and tourism team. The finance team consists in the form of the party's Academic Council, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister, Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai was, until September 19 2006, a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand overseeing Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture.-Family and early career:...
. Members included former Governor of the Bank of Thailand Vijit Supinich, former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Supachai Pisitvanit, former Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Bunpod Hongthong and Finance specialists Vichien Techapaiboon and Nithit Pukkanasud. Although Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai
Surakiart Sathirathai was, until September 19 2006, a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand overseeing Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture.-Family and early career:...
was one of 111 TRT executives banned from politics for five years, he said that the party's Academic Council only provides policy guidelines and is not part of the political party. The tourism team was led by former Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan and former senators Suradej Yasawat and Jirayu Vasurut. All three were also deputy party leaders. Their main policy was to make Thailand a hub for tourism with expected earnings of 1.33 trillion baht in 2011.
Three days before the December 23, 2007 general election
Thai general election, 2007
The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections...
, deputy party leader Juthamas Siriwan resigned from the party amidst a bribery scandal stemming from her tenure as governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and president of the Bangkok International Film Festival
Bangkok International Film Festival
The Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:...
.
Let it be noted that Suwit Khunkitti could not even muster enough votes to be elected for
his Khonkoen contiutency and only made it back into the house as a list MP.
At the end of the 2007-2011 term, 12 of the 32 Puea Pandin MPs had joined the Bhumjaithai Party, three had defected to Pheu Thai, two to the Democrats
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...
, two to Chartthaipattana, and one each to Matubhum
Matubhum Party
The Matubhum Party is a minor political party in Thailand, founded in November 2008. It mainly represents the interests of the Muslim minority in Thailands Southern provinces...
and Tankun Pandin. The remaining nine representatives joined forces with their National Development Party colleagues and formed the new Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party.