Phalang Pracharat Party

Phalang Pracharat Party
พรรคพลังประชารัฐ
Leader Utama Savanayon
Secretary-General Sontirat Sontijirawong
Spokesperson Kobsak Phutrakool
Founded March 2, 2018 (2018-03-02)
Headquarters Bangkok, Thailand
Ideology Conservatism
Pro–military[1]
Political position Right-wing[2]
Colours      blue

Phalang Pracharat Party (Thai: พรรคพลังประชารัฐ RTGS: Phak Phalang Pracharat, alternatively spelled Palang Pracharat or Palangpracharath; English "People's State Power Party") is a Thai pro-military and conservative political party established in 2018 by Chuan Chuchan (Thai: ชวน ชูจันทร์) and Suchart Jantarachotikul (Thai: พันเอกสุชาติ จันทรโชติกุล). It supports the re-election of Prayut Chan-o-cha who has ruled the country as head of a military junta since the 2014 coup d'état. It has therefore been dubbed the "pro-Prayut party" by the media, despite the sitting prime minister not being a member of the party.[3]

Co-founder Suchart Jantarachotikul is a retired army colonel who was a classmate of Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School,[4] shortly served as a member of parliament of the New Aspiration Party representing Songkhla Province in 1992 and was a member of the junta-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly from 2015 to 2017.[5]

The party is supported by the Sam Mit (i.e. "Three Friends" or "Three Allies") group of former cabinet ministers who have changed their allegiance from the camp of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the pro-Prayut camp: Somsak Thepsuthin (deputy prime minister in 2004–05 and minister of several portfolios during Thaksin Shinawatra's government 2001–06), Suriya Jungrungreangkit (deputy prime minister 2005–06 and minister of industry and transport under Thaksin during the 2001–06 period) and Somkid Jatusripitak (deputy prime minister for three terms, minister of finance and commerce under Thaksin during 2001–06, and again deputy prime minister under Prayut since 2015). They try to win over former members of parliament from the oppositional pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party (and its predecessors Thai Rak Thai and People's Power Party) as well as the Red Shirts movement to the pro-Prayut government camp. The oppositional Pheu Thai Party has complained to the Election Commission (EC), accusing the Phalang Pracharat Party of enjoying undue support from government figures and agencies.[6][7]

References

  • Charuvastra, Teeranai (12 March 2018). "New Party Wants to Recruit Prayuth". Khaosod English. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  1. ↑ https://www.fitchsolutions.com/country-risk-sovereigns/2019-political-preview-emerging-market-elections-focus-13-08-2018
  2. ↑ http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30351962
  3. ↑ "Parties propose poll date". Bangkok Post. 30 June 2018.
  4. ↑ James Ockey (3 April 2018). "Elections won't give Thailand's junta legitimacy". East Asia Forum.
  5. ↑ Aekarach Sattaburuth (14 May 2018). "Bhumjaithai insists on insider PM". Bangkok Post.
  6. ↑ Mongkol Bangprapa (2 July 2018). "EC asked to nip Palang Pracharat in the bud". Bangkok Post.
  7. ↑ "'No special treatment for pro-Prayut group'". The Nation. 3 July 2018.
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