Trairong Suwankiri
Encyclopedia
Trairong Suwankiri is a Thai
politician
(Democrat Party
). He was deputy prime minister in the cabinet
of Abhisit Vejjajiva
, and vice leader of the Democrats.
Trairong holds a Master's degree and a Doctoral degree in Economics
of the University of Hawaii
.
Trairong Suwankiri has started his career as private secretary to Professor Puey Ungpakorn
, at this time prominent rector of the Thammasat University
. In this function he had to witness the Thammasat University massacre of 6 October 1976.
In 1986 Trairong was for the first time elected to the House of Representatives
on the Democrat Party list. Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda
appointed him government spokesman. From 1988 to 1991 he was deputy minister of Interior in the administration of Chatichai Choonhavan
and from 1992 to 1994 deputy minister of Finance under the first premiership of Chuan Leekpai
.
He has served as Minister of Industry
from 1994 to 1995 in Chuan's first, Minister of Labor
from 1997 to 1998 and Deputy Prime Minister in 1999, in his second cabinet. 2005 he was elected vice president of the Democrat Party. From 15 January 2010 to 9 August 2011, he was one of three deputy prime ministers under Abhisit Vejjajiva
and in charge of economic affairs.
In parliament and public he is known for his jokes and his heavy Southern accent.
Trairong means tricolour and is the name of the Thai national flag
.
Trairong Suwankiri is decorated with the highest class (Knight Grand Cordon) of both the Order of the White Elephant
and the Order of the Crown of Thailand.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
(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...
). He was deputy prime minister in the cabinet
Abhisit cabinet
The Abhisit Cabinet was announced after the appointment of Abhisit Vejjajiva as Prime Minister of Thailand on the 17 December 2008. The Cabinet line-up itself was announced on the 20 December, to the news media. The Cabinet was formally sworn in by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 22...
of 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...
, and vice leader of the Democrats.
Trairong holds a Master's degree and a Doctoral degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
of the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
Trairong Suwankiri has started his career as private secretary to Professor Puey Ungpakorn
Puey Ungpakorn
Puey Ungpakorn, MBE was an extremely successful bureaucrat who played a central role in the shaping of Thailand's economic development and in the strengthening of its system of higher education...
, at this time prominent rector of the Thammasat University
Thammasat University
Thammasat University , or in brief TU , is Thailand's second oldest university. Officially established on 27 June 1934, the university was originally named by founder Pridi Banomyong, University of Moral Science and Politics , reflecting the political fervor of the time...
. In this function he had to witness the Thammasat University massacre of 6 October 1976.
In 1986 Trairong was for the first time elected to 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...
on the Democrat Party list. Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda
Prem Tinsulanonda
General Prem Tinsulanonda is a retired Thai military officer who served as Prime Minister of Thailand from March 3, 1980 to August 4, 1988. He now serves as the Head of the Privy Council of the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej....
appointed him government spokesman. From 1988 to 1991 he was deputy minister of Interior in the administration of Chatichai Choonhavan
Chatichai Choonhavan
General Chatichai Choonhavan was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan, and is of Thai Chinese descent with ancestry from Chenghai District...
and from 1992 to 1994 deputy minister of Finance under the first premiership of Chuan Leekpai
Chuan Leekpai
Chuan Leekpai was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 20, 1992 to May 19, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001. A third-generation Thai Chinese, Chuan was born in Trang province in a grass-roofed house. The walls of his family's house were woven from strips of...
.
He has served as Minister of Industry
Ministry of Industry (Thailand)
The Ministry of Industry of the Kingdom of Thailand is a Cabinet ministry in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is responsible for the promotion and regulation of Industries...
from 1994 to 1995 in Chuan's first, Minister of Labor
Ministry of Labor (Thailand)
The Ministry of Labour , is a Thai government body responsible for the oversight of labour administration and protection, skill development, the promotion of employment of people in Thailand.-External links:* - Official Website in Thai...
from 1997 to 1998 and Deputy Prime Minister in 1999, in his second cabinet. 2005 he was elected vice president of the Democrat Party. From 15 January 2010 to 9 August 2011, he was one of three deputy prime ministers under 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...
and in charge of economic affairs.
In parliament and public he is known for his jokes and his heavy Southern accent.
Trairong means tricolour and is the name of the Thai national flag
Flag of Thailand
The flag of the Kingdom of Thailand shows five horizontal stripes in the colours red, white, blue, white and red, with the middle blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The design was adopted on 28 September 1917, according to the royal decree about the flag in that year; the...
.
Trairong Suwankiri is decorated with the highest class (Knight Grand Cordon) of both the Order of the White Elephant
Order of the White Elephant
The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant is the most awarded order of Thailand. It was established in 1861 by King Rama IV of the Kingdom of Siam.The Order consists of eight classes:...
and the Order of the Crown of Thailand.