Pheu Thai Party

Thai political party

Pheu Thai Party

พรรคเพื่อไทย

Abbreviation| PTP
Leader| Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Secretary-General| Sorawong Thienthong
Spokesperson| Danuporn Punnakant
Founder| Thaksin Shinawatra
Founded| 20 September 2007; 17 years ago (2007-09-20)
Preceded by| People's Power Party (de facto)
Headquarters| 1770 OAI Bld. New Petchburi Rd. Bangkapi, Huai Khwang, Bangkok
Think tank| CARE[1]
Pheu Thai Academy[2][3]
Youth wing| Pheu Thai Institute of Youth[4][5]
Membership (2024)| 38,293[6]
Ideology|

* Liberal conservatism[10]
* Economic liberalism[14]
* Populism[18]

Political position| Centre-right[20]
Colours|  Red and  Blue
Slogan| ขอคิดใหม่ ทำใหม่ เพื่อไทยทุกคน... อีกครั้ง
('Let us rethink and redo for all Thais... again)[21][needs update]
House of Representatives|

141 / 500

Bangkok Metropolitan Council|

21 / 50

PAO Chiefs|

11 / 76

Website
ptp.or.th

* Politics of Thailand
* Political parties
* Elections

The Pheu Thai Party[22] (PTP; Thai: พรรคเพื่อไทย, lit. 'For Thais Party', RTGS: Phak Phuea Thai, pronounced [pʰák pʰɯ̂a tʰāj]) is a major Thai political party. It is the third incarnation of a Thai political party founded by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and like the previous incarnations, is the main political vehicle for the Shinawatra family. It is the current majority ruling party of Thailand, ruling along with other parties in a coalition.

The Pheu Thai Party was founded on 20 September 2007,[23] as an anticipated replacement for the People's Power Party (PPP), which the Constitutional Court of Thailand dissolved less than three months later after finding party members guilty of electoral fraud. The People's Power Party was itself a replacement for Thaksin's original Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT), dissolved by the Court in May 2007 for violation of electoral laws.[24][25]

As of 2023[update], the PTP has 66,833 members. The party is currently being led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, businesswoman and daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The party tends to be more popular in the north and northeast of the country. It won 141 seats in the 2023 Thai general election, making it the party with the second largest number of seats in the Thai House of Representatives.

## History

[edit]

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2023)

|

### Formation and opposition years (2008–2011)

[edit]

The PPP was dissolved by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 2 December 2008. On 3 December 2008, the majority of the former PPP MPs defected to the Pheu Thai Party. In a PTP general assembly, the first executive commission was elected on 7 December 2008.[26] Candidates for the party's leader were: Yongyuth Wichaidit, Apiwan Wiriyachai, former Vice President of the House of Representatives, former health minister Chalerm Yubamrung and former industry minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan.[26] Yongyuth Wichaidit was elected as the party's leader.[26][27]

In a December 2008 parliamentary session, MPs of five PPP coalition parties decided to endorse Abhisit Vejjajiva as the next prime minister and themselves forming a Democrat-led coalition. The PTP campaigned for their endorsement by the PPP-coalition parties. However, Abhisit had gained their support for the premiership.[28][29] After that, the party called for a national unity government in which all parties would be involved, with Sanoh Thienthong of the Pracharaj Party as the new premier. This proposal was rejected by the defecting coalition parties and the Democrat Party.[30] On 11 December, Worrawat Eua-apinyakul, then MP for Phrae from PTP, suggested that the party should push for a house dissolution and general elections, with the hope of depriving the prospective coalition of a parliamentary majority. However, The President of the House of Representatives; Chai Chidchob spoke against the plan.[31]

On 15 December 2008, the party elected Pracha Promnok as the party's candidate for prime minister and has since been in opposition to prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's coalition government. As an opposition, the party received a rating of 3.75 out of 10 by a majority of respondents in a nationwide survey conducted on 24 and 25 December 2010, by Bangkok University.[32]

In early May 2011, Charupong Ruangsuwan was named new Secretary general of the party.[33] Following the discovery of illegal timber by Thai authorities, during an August 2014 search at Charupong's son's Mae Hong Son Province resort for buried war weapons and other illegal items, the media reported that both Charupong and his son were no longer present in Thailand.[34]

### In government (2011–2014)

[edit]

In the 2011 general election, the Pheu Thai Party contested for the first time since its foundation. On 16 May, Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck Shinawatra was nominated head of PTP's party-list proportional representation and contender of prime minister Abhisit. One of her main issues in the campaign was national reconciliation.[35] The election was expected to be a neck-and-neck contest between Pheu Thai and the ruling Democrats.[36] Unexpectedly,[citation needed] the party won 265 of 500 seats in the House of Representatives on 3 July. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva acknowledged Pheu Thai's success in the election, and congratulated Yingluck Shinawatra as Thailand's first female prime minister.[37] Despite its absolute majority, the winning party announced that it would form a coalition government with five minor parties. On 5 August, Yingluck was elected prime minister with 296 votes in favour. The election was approved and Yingluck was formally appointed by the king on 8 August.[38]

### 2023 election

[edit]

Loudspeaker car for Pheu Thai Party, with Paethongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister candidate, 2023

During the 2023 Thai general election, Pheu Thai repeated its position that it would not form a coalition with both Palang Pracharat and United Thai Nation due to their involvement in the 2014 coup.[39] Following the 2023 election, the Move Forward party leader and candidate, Pita Limjaoenrat, was denied the position of Prime Minister by Parliament.[40] The coalition was then dissolved and replaced by a Pheu Thai led coalition without Move Forward.[41]

On 7 August, they formed a new coalition to include Bhumjaithai, which won the third largest amount of MPs in the election and on 10 August, the Chart Pattana Kla party joined the coalition with 2 MPs.[42]

On 12 August, Pheu Thai unofficially[43] expanded its coalition again to include the pro-junta parties of Palang Pracharat and United Thai Nation, which both participated or supported the 2014 coup that ousted Pheu Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, increasing the amount of MPs in the coalition to 315 out of the 500 MPs in Parliament.[44][45] The move was widely criticized as it broke their election promise to not work with parties linked to the junta.[46]

The coalition currently contains in order of most MPs: Pheu Thai at 141 MPs, Bhumjaithai at 71, Palang Pracharat at 40, United Thai Nation at 36, Chart Pattana Kla at 2; with Thai Liberal, New Democracy, Plung Sungkom Mai and Thongtee Thai all having one.[45] On 22 August 2023, its candidate Srettha Thavisin was elected 30th Prime Minister after gaining enough votes from Parliament.[47]

## Ideology

[edit]

Similar to its predecessors, the Pheu Thai Party is a populist political party that appeals to the rural and urban poor. The party tends to be more popular among subsistence farmers and the rural working class mostly found in the northern and northeastern regions of Thailand. In 2023, the PTP campaigned on economically populist policies including cash handouts (฿10,000 digital wallet), expanding healthcare coverage and raising the minimum wage.[48][49]

The party is mostly liberal on social issues due to its support for democracy, scrapping military conscription, decriminalizing sex work, and legalizing same-sex marriage. It is conservative on reforming the lèse-majesté laws and opposes monarchy reforms.[50][51][52][53][54]

Despite being perceived by some as leftist, the PTP is quite pro-business and economically liberal. Under the Yingluck administration, the party passed several cuts in corporate tax and considered reducing corporate income tax even further to boost innovation and business growth. In 2023, Paethongtarn Shinawatra stated that "Capitalism must have a heart" which further solidified the party's economic image as one of "Empathetic Capitalism".[55][56][57]

## Political positions

[edit]

### 2023 Manifesto

[edit]

Economic policy[58]

* Raising the minimum wage to ฿600 by 2027
* Raising Thailand's GDP

* Promote cultural and medical tourism
* Introduce a ฿10,000 'digital wallet' for Thais over 16[59]
* Introduce free Wi-Fi in public parks
* Introduce a minimum monthly ฿25,000 salary for workers with a bachelor’s degree[60]
* Introduce a monthly retirement fund of ฿3,000 to Thais aged over 60[60]
* Decentralise public hospitals
* Upgrade water management
* Upgrade rail infrastructure
* Construct new rail infrastructure
* Expand Suvarnabhumi Airport
* Expand maternity benefits[60]
* Improve working conditions[61]

Social policy[58]

* Keep the lèse-majesté laws[41]
* Decentralise the central government
* Decentralise public education
* Allow elections for provincial governors
* Rewrite the constitution to only allow elected MPs to vote for a prime minister
* Introduce free HPV vaccinations
* Introduce free medical checkups for Hepatitis C
* Legalize same-sex marriage[62]
* Replace military conscription with a voluntary system[63]

## Pheu Thai Party Prime Ministers

[edit]

Name | Portrait | Periods in Office  | Election

|
|
|

Yingluck Shinawatra |  | 5 August 2011 – 7 May 2014  | 2011 (24th)
Srettha Thavisin |  | 22 August 2023 – 14 August 2024  | 2023 (26th)
Paetongtarn Shinawatra |  | 16 August 2024 – incumbent  | — (26th)

## Election results

[edit]

### General elections

[edit]

Election  | Total seats won  | Total votes  | Share of votes  | Seat change  | Outcome of election  | Election leader

|
|
|
|
|
|

2011 |

265 / 500

| 15,744,190  | 48.41%  | 76 seats  | Governing coalition | Yingluck Shinawatra
2014 | Invalidated  | Invalidated  | Invalidated  |  | Unconstitutional - nullified
2019 |

136 / 500

| 7,920,630  | 22.29%  | 129 seats  | Opposition | Sudarat Keyuraphan
2023 |

141 / 500

| 10,962,522  | 28.86%  | 5 seats  | Governing coalition | Paethongtarn Shinawatra

### Bangkok gubernatorial elections

[edit]

Election  | Candidate  | Total votes  | Share of votes  | Outcome

|
|
|
|

2009 | Yuranunt Pamornmontri | 611,669  | 29.06%  | Lost N
2013 | Pongsapat Pongcharoen | 1,077,899  | 40.97%  | Lost N
2022 | Supported Chadchart Sittipunt | 1,386,769  | 52.65%  | Elected Y

### Bangkok Metropolitan Council elections

[edit]

Election  | Total seats won  | Total votes  | Share of votes  | Seat change

|
|
|
|

2010  |

15 / 61

|  |  | 5 seats
2022 |

20 / 50

| 620,009  | 26.77%  | 5 seats

### District Council elections

[edit]

Election  | Total seats won  | Total votes  | Share of votes  | Seat change

|
|
|
|

2010  |

65 / 361

|  |  | 5 seats

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "เปิดตัว กลุ่ม "CARE คิด เคลื่อน ไทย"". 13 June 2020.
2. ^ Sattaburuth, Aekarach (5 May 2024). "Pheu Thai Academy to coach MPs". Bangkok Post. Vol. LXXVII, no. 127\. p. 3\. ISSN 1686-4271. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
3. ^ "เพื่อไทย ปั้นทีม 'PTP Academy' จุดพลุวาระสังคม ส่งรัฐสานต่อ". Krungthep Turakij (in Thai). Vol. 37, no. 12634\. Bang Na: Nation Group. 6 May 2024. pp. 5–8. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
4. ^ ""อ้อเล็ก" โผล่คุมงานเยาวชนเพื่อไทย "ปู-โอ๊ค-อ้วน" รับบทกุนซือ". 24 October 2013.
5. ^ "พรรคเพื่อไทยให้ความสำคัญวัยใส เปิดตัวสถาบันเยาวชนเพื่อไทย".
6. ^ "ข้อมูลพรรคการเมืองที่ยังดำเนินการอยู่ ณ วันที่ 30 มิถุนายน 2567" (PDF). 30 June 2024.
7. ^ Cod Satrusayang (4 November 2021). "Cod Satrusayang: Same old Pheu Thai, Conservative party with liberal lipstick". thaienquirer.
8. ^ Pichayada Promchertchoo (17 August 2023). "Analysis: Democracy champion to new face of conservatives — how Pheu Thai's moves to regain power could shape Thai politics". CNA.
9. ^ Pravit Rojanaphruk (30 July 2023). "REBRANDING THE PHEU THAI PARTY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THAILAND AND THAKSIN". khaosodenglish.
10. ^ [7][8][9]
11. ^ Phongpaichit, Pasuk; Baker, Chris (2009). Thaksin (Second ed.). Silkworm Books. pp. 115–123.
12. ^ a b "Major players in Thailand's election". 29 December 2016.
13. ^ Martin Petty (7 June 2011). "Thai opposition's Yingluck: populist but pro-business". reuters.
14. ^ [11][12][13]
15. ^ Boris Sullivan (5 June 2011). "Is Thaksin's Pheu Thai a Populist Party?". Thailand Business News.
16. ^ "Thailand's main political parties". AlJazeera. 2 July 2011.
17. ^ Peter Warr (20 September 2011). "'Thaksinomics' and Thai Populism Redux". Global Asia. 6 (3).
18. ^ [15][16][17]
19. ^ Pichayada Promchertchoo (17 August 2023). "She added that the shift in Pheu Thai's political image towards the right wing has brought its conservative nature into focus, thus breaking its facade falsely perceived by some voters as leftist..." CNAasia.
20. ^ [12][19]
21. ^ "Pheu Thai Party Website Logo and Motto page in Thai". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
22. ^ "ประกาศนายทะเบียนพรรคการเมือง เรื่อง รับจดแจ้งการจัดตั้งพรรคเพื่อไทย" [Political parties registrar announcement Re: Pheu Thai Party establishment register accepted] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai). 124 (special part 174 D): 23. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
23. ^ พรรคที่จดทะเบียนจัดตั้ง เมื่อวันที่ 20 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2550
24. ^ "Historical rulings unfold". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 30 May 2007.
25. ^ "The Constitutional Tribunal disbands Thai Rak Thai". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 30 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
26. ^ a b c "Puea Thai Party to elect leader on Sunday". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 3 December 2008.
27. ^ "Yongyuth becomes new Pheu Thai leader". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008.
28. ^ "Pheu Thai in desperate bid for power". The Nation (Thailand). 8 December 2008.
29. ^ "Thai opposition 'set for power'". BBC News. 10 December 2008.
30. ^ Jaikawang, Naya (10 December 2008). "Pheu Thai now calling for a national govt". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok.
31. ^ "We may dissolve the House : Pheu Thai". The Nation (Thailand). Bangkok. 11 December 2008.
32. ^ "Poll gives government low marks". Bangkok Post. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
33. ^ "Jarupong named Pheu Thai sec gen". The Nation. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
34. ^ "Huge haul of illegal timber found in the resort of Charupong Ruangsuwan's son". Thai PBS. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
35. ^ Hengkietisak, Kamol (28 May 2011). "Yingluck unveils Pheu Thai's model of reconciliation". Bangkok Post.
36. ^ "No teaming up for Pheu Thai, Democrats". Bangkok Post. 10 May 2018.
37. ^ "Thai prime minister concedes, congratulates first female premier". CNN. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
38. ^ Proclamation on Appointment of Prime Minister (Yingluck Shinawatra) dated 5 August 2011
39. ^ Connor, Mitch (19 April 2023). "Pheu Thai Party candidate rejects collaboration with coup leaders". Thaiger. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
40. ^ "'It's like a divorce': Thailand's Pheu Thai aims to form government after poll winner Move Forward is sidelined". ABC News. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
41. ^ a b "Thailand's Pheu Thai Party Takes Control—But at a Long Term Cost". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
42. ^ "Pheu Thai Closes In On A House Majority Needing Only 98 More Seats". 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
43. ^ Fronde, Neill (13 August 2023). "Pheu Thai Party solidifies coalition agreement with PPRP and UTN". Thaiger. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
44. ^ "PPRP to vote for Pheu Thai PM candidate unconditionally". Pattaya Mail. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
45. ^ a b "Pheu Thai coalition 'done'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
46. ^ "Critics slam Pheu Thai's 'betrayal'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
47. ^ "Srettha Thavisin set to become Thailand's new prime minister after three months of political deadlock". www.msn.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
48. ^ "A taste of populism". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
49. ^ "Pheu Thai clarifies wage-hike pledge". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
50. ^ "LGBTQ+ groups turn to Pheu Thai". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
51. ^ "Thailand's Pheu Thai Party Takes Control—But at a Long Term Cost". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
52. ^ https://www.facebook.com/TheNationThailand (29 April 2023). "Where different parties stand in Thailand's political compass". nationthailand. Retrieved 18 August 2023. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help); External link in ``|last=`` (help)
53. ^ https://www.facebook.com/TheNationThailand (5 June 2023). "Pita, Paetongtarn lead Thailand into 'rainbow era' at Bangkok Pride". nationthailand. Retrieved 18 August 2023. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help); External link in ``|last=`` (help)
54. ^ "City groups push for legalisation of sex work". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
55. ^ "Tax reforms put on hold". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
56. ^ "EXCLUSIVE - Thai opposition's Yingluck: populist but pro-business". Reuters. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
57. ^ เพื่อไทย พรรคนี้เป็นไงบ้าง?, 5 April 2023, retrieved 18 August 2023
58. ^ a b Parpart, Erich (7 December 2022). "Pheu Thai up political game after its policy manifesto announcement, politics set to heat up - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs". Thai Enquirer. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
59. ^ "Pheu Thai to revive 'digital wallet'". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
60. ^ a b c "Party Policies, Factional Politics, and the 2023 Election in Thailand". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
61. ^ "Thailand's opposition party unveils policies and candidates". AP News. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
62. ^ "LGBTQ+ groups turn to Pheu Thai". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
63. ^ Parpart, Erich (19 January 2023). "Opposition parties call for an end to mandatory conscription - Thai Enquirer Current Affairs". Thai Enquirer. Retrieved 17 August 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Thailand's July Election: Understanding the Outcome, Q&A with Catharin Dalpino (July 2011)
* East Asia Forum: "The changing face of Thai populism" (June 2013)

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Thailand

Represented in
Parliament (500)|

* People's Party (143)
* Pheu Thai Party (141)
* Bhumjaithai Party (71)
* Palang Pracharath Party (40)
* United Thai Nation Party (36)
* Democrat Party (25)
* Chart Thai Pattana Party (10)
* Prachachat Party (9)
* Thai Sang Thai Party (6)
* Chart Pattana Party (3)
* Peu Thai Rumphalang Party (2)
* Fair Party (2)
* Thai Liberal Party (1)
* New Democracy Party (1)
* New Party (1)
* Party of Thai Countries (1)
* New Social Power Party (1)
* Thai Teacher's for People Party (1)
* Thai Progress Party (1)

Extra-parliamentary|

* Thai Citizen Party
* New Aspiration Party
* Palang Burapha Party

Defunct parties|

* People's Party (1927–1947)
* Communist Party of Thailand (1942–1990s, banned since 1948)
* Seri Manangkhasila Party (1955–1957)
* National Socialist Party (1957–1958)
* United Thai People's Party (1968–1971)
* Socialist Party of Thailand (1974–1976)
* Social Justice Party (1974–1976)
* Socialist United Front Party (1974–1976)
* New Force Party (1974–1988)
* Thai Nation Party (1974–2008)
* Social Action Party (1974–2018)
* Palang Dharma Party (1988–2007)
* Justice Unity Party (1992)
* Liberal Party (1992–1993)
* National Development Party (1992–2005)
* Thai Rak Thai Party (1998–2007)
* People's Power Party (1998–2008)
* Pracharaj Party (2006–2018)
* Neutral Democratic Party (2007–2008)
* Matubhum Party (2008–2018)
* New Politics Party (2009–2013)
* Thai Raksa Chart Party (2009–2019)
* Commoner Party of Thailand (2014–2019)
* Rak Thailand Party (2010-2019)
* Rak Santi Party (2011–2019)
* People Reform Party (2018–2019)
* Mahachon Party (1998–2020)
* Future Forward Party (2018–2020)
* Puea Pandin Party (2007–2023)
* Move Forward Party (2014–2024)

* Politics of Thailand

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template