Phalang Chon Party

The Phalang Chon Party (Thai: พรรคพลังชล, Phak Phalang Chon) is a political party in Thailand founded in 2011. The party's key figure is its "chief adviser" Sontaya Kunplome, former minister of tourism under Thaksin Shinawatra, who left the Bhumjaithai Party in 2011 to found the Phalang Chon Party. Formally, the party is chaired by Chao Maneewong. In the 2011 general election, the party won seven seats: one party-list seat and six constituencies. All of the seats won, represent Chonburi Province, Sontaya's home province and Phalang Chon's only stronghold. After the elections, the Phalang Chon Party agreed to participate in a five-party coalition government, dominated by the Pheu Thai Party and led by Yingluck Shinawatra.[2] Sontaya's wife Sukumol Kunplome was given the post of culture minister in Yingluck's cabinet.[3]