Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Thai: นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล, RTGS: Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, IPA: [ní.wát.tʰam.roŋ bun.soŋ.pʰaj.sǎːn]; born 25 January 1948) is a Thai businessman and politician who served as the acting Prime Minister of Thailand following Yingluck Shinawatra's removal from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 7 May 2014 until his deposition in a coup d'état three weeks after taking office.[1] Before becoming acting premier, he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and before that managed the country's rice pledging scheme.[2][3]

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan
นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล

Prime Minister of Thailand
Acting
In office
7 May 2014  22 May 2014
MonarchBhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded byYingluck Shinawatra
Succeeded byPrayut Chan-o-cha
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
30 June 2013  22 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Minister of Commerce
In office
30 June 2013  22 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Preceded byBoonsong Teriyapirom
Succeeded byChatchai Sarikalya
Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
In office
18 January 2012  30 June 2013
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Personal details
Born (1948-01-25) 25 January 1948
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyPheu Thai Party
Spouse(s)Boonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan
Alma materSrinakharinwirot University
Chulalongkorn University
Signature

Early and personal life

Niwatthamrong was born on 25 January 1948. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from Srinakharinwirot University and a master's degree in computer science from Chulalongkorn University and is married to Boonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan. [1]

Business career

A close business associate of Thaksin Shinawatra, Niwatthamrong served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee-Media and Advertising front of Shin Corporation since 1995 and as Vice-Chairman since 2000.[1] He served from 2001 to 2002 as Vice-Chairman of iTV and from 1993 to 1995, director of that company between 2002 and 2008, and a member of the board of directors between 2008 and 16 March 2010.[1]

Political career

Niwatthamrong served as director of the controversial rice pledging scheme, where rice was bought at inflated prices from farmers and subsequently was left to rot due to lack of buyers.[3] On 30 June 2013 he was appointed Minister of Commerce and a deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Yingluck Shinawatra.

Acting Prime Minister

On 7 May 2014, Niwatthamrong became acting Prime Minister following the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several members of her cabinet from office.[2] On 22 May 2014 he was himself removed from office following a military coup.

References

  1. "Executive Profile: Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  2. "Court removes Thai PM from office, deputy Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan appointed caretaker". The Daily Star. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. Pramotmaneerat, Thammarat (1 July 2013). "Newly-appointed Commerce Minister not worried about rice pledging program". Thai Financial Post. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by
Yingluck Shinawatra
Prime Minister of Thailand
Acting

2014
Succeeded by
Prayuth Chan-ocha
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