United Thai Nation Party

Political party in Thailand

The United Thai Nation Party (Thai: พรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ, RTGS: Ruam Thai Sang Chart, pronounced [pʰák rūa̯m tʰāj sâːŋ t͡ɕʰâːt]) is a major Thai political party registered on 31 March 2021 by Seksakon Atthawong, former Deputy Minister to Prayut Chan-o-cha. In the run-up to the 2023 general election, then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha joined the party on 9 January 2023 as its candidate for the position.[7] The party emerged as the fifth largest party in Thailand, winning 36 seats in the House of Representatives and 12.55% of the vote. The party has been characterized as being conservative, and both pro-military and pro-monarchist.[8]

History

Party's founding period

United Thai Nation Party is a political party, No. 5/2021, registered on 31 March 2021, with Seksakon Atthawong as the founder of the party.[9] There is the first party office at 169/98 Serm Sub Building Ratchadapisek Rd., Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok.[10]

Prayut's decision to join the party

On Friday, 23 December 2022, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he had decided to apply for membership of the United Thai Nation Party and was ready to accept the nomination from party members for another term as prime minister. In the 2023 election, there had been talks with Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party.[11] It was expected that Prayut will assume the position of party chairman and chairman of the steering committee or the party's superboard as well.[12] In the afternoon of the same day, the Party Executive Committee convened a meeting at the Party headquarters on Soi Aree.[13]

After the announcement of the United Thai Nation Party membership of Prayut Seksakol Atthawong, leader of the Terd Thai Party, decided to resign from the party, and rejoined the United Thai Nation Party, causing him to leave the position of the Terd Thai Party leader.[14] Chatchawal Kong-udom, the strategy chairman of the Thai Local Power Party, gave an interview that he was preparing to join the United Thai Nation Party, but did not specify whether he would resign from being an MP or not.[15] Then Party Leader Peeraphan, Party Secretary Akanat, Duangrit, the Party Deputy Leader and Party Treasurer Prakromsak held a press conference at the Party Headquarters after the meeting of the Executive Committee.[16]

On 26 December 2022, Chatchawal, together with Noppadol Kaewsupat, another party-list MP from the Thai Local Power Party, submitted a letter of resignation from being a MP and party member by Chatchawal prepare to launch as a member of the United Thai Nation Party.[17] The next day, Chatchawal along with Trairong Suwankiri and Chumpol Kanchana, two former members of the Democrat Party Advisory Council has officially launched as a member of the United Thai Nation Party.[18] On the same day, party leader Peeraphan said Gen Prayut would apply for membership in early 2023 after the New Year.[19]

In early 2023, there was a news that Prayut was preparing to apply for membership in the United Thai Nation Party in mid-January.[20] Prayut gave an interview to reporters on 3 January 2023, stating that he would definitely apply for membership in the United Thai Nation Party, but had not yet set a clear date. It also did not confirm whether he would be the party chairman and chairman of the party's super board according to previous news.[21] On the same day, Picharat Laohaphongchana, party-list MP of the Palang Pracharath Party has submitted a letter of resignation from being an MP and a member of the party to join the United Thai Nation Party.[22]

The next day, there was news that Prayut was preparing to apply for a party membership at the launch event conference on Monday, 9 January 2023 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.[23] Peeraphan said it was likely that Prayut would apply for a party membership that day but still have to wait for a clear conclusion.[24]

Prayut and Pirapan as Prime Ministerial candidate

Later, on 25 March 2023, at Exhibition Hall 5, Exhibition and Convention Center, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, the Party organized an event to launch all 400 candidates for the House of Representatives all across the country. This was including the launch of Prayut as the party's prime ministerial candidate in the first order, and Prayut also announced Pirapan as the party's prime ministerial candidate in the second order, resulting in the Party creating 2 candidates for Prime Minister.

Later, on 11 July 2023, Prayut announced his decision to resign from the party and retire from politics.[25]

General election results

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
2023
36 / 500
 4,673,691 11.90% Increase36 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition Prayut Chan-o-cha

References

  1. ^ ข้อมูลพรรคการเมืองที่ยังดำเนินการอยู่ ณ วันที่ 8 มีนาคม 2566
  2. ^ "Thailand election: Campaign freebies may be a 'band-aid solution' with fiscal risks". CNBC. 8 May 2023. Even if the ultra-conservative United Thai Nation Party wins, it would be unable to form a coalition government without Bhumjaithai Party
  3. ^ "Leader of PM's UTN tells rally a government led by his party will 'get tough' with nation haters". Thai Examiner. 8 April 2023.
  4. ^ "กกต.แจ้งหัวหน้า 'รวมไทยสร้างชาติ' ดูแลไม่ให้ 'ไตรรงค์' นำสถาบันกษัตริย์มาใช้ในการหาเสียง". Prachatai. 13 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Thailand's Right-Wing Parties: Keeping Democracy Close But Its Enemies Closer". Fulcrum. 17 April 2023.
  6. ^ "เพลงประจำพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ". YouTube.
  7. ^ "Thailand's Prayut Changes Party, Says Willing to Remain PM". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. ^ https://www.facebook.com/TheNationThailand (16 March 2023). "Party by party guide to Thailand's general election". nationthailand. Retrieved 20 July 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); External link in |last= (help)
  9. ^ "เสกสกล"ขอลุยทำพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ หนุน"ประยุทธ์"เป็นนายกฯ
  10. ^ ทำความรู้จัก “รวมไทยสร้างชาติ” พรรคใหม่ หนุน “บิ๊กตู่” นั่งนายกฯ
  11. ^ ""บิ๊กตู่" ประกาศเป็นแคนดิเดตนายกฯ "รวมไทยสร้างชาติ" ยันคุย "พี่ป้อม" แล้ว สัมพันธ์พี่น้องทหารไม่แตกหัก". mgronline.com (in Thai). 23 December 2022.
  12. ^ ""สุชาติ"จ่อนั่งซูเปอร์บอร์ดพรรครทสช. มอบ "เอกนัฏ" วางระบบพรรคใหม่". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 19 December 2022.
  13. ^ "กก.บห.รวมไทยสร้างชาติ ประชุมบ่ายนี้ หลัง "ประยุทธ์" ตอบรับร่วมสู้เลือกตั้ง 2566". thairath (in Thai). 23 December 2022.
  14. ^ ไปไหนไปกัน! 'แรมโบ้'ลาออกหน.พรรคเทิดไท ย้ายซบ'รทสช.'เสริมทัพ'บิ๊กตู่'
  15. ^ "ชัช เตาปูน” ไหลตาม“บิ๊กตู่”ซบ"รวมไทยสร้างชาติ"นั่งทีมยุทธศาสตร์
  16. ^ 'พีระพันธุ์' ยิ้มไม่หุบ แถลงข่าว 'บิ๊กตู่' เข้า รทสช. เป็นนายกฯได้อีก 2 ปีก็ไม่ใช่อุปสรรค
  17. ^ 'ชัช เตาปูน' ลาออกส.ส.พลังท้องถิ่นไท จ่อซบรวมไทยสร้างชาติ
  18. ^ "'ไตรรงค์-ชุมพล-ชัช เตาปูน' เปิดตัวซบรวมไทยสร้างชาติยก 'บิ๊กตู่' ผู้มากบารมี!". เดลินิวส์ (in Thai).
  19. ^ Kaset (27 December 2022). "พีระพันธุ์ แย้ม ประยุทธ์ สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ หลังปีใหม่". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ (in Thai).
  20. ^ "จับตา 'บิ๊กตู่' สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติกลางเดือนม.ค.!". เดลินิวส์ (in Thai).
  21. ^ Pum (3 January 2023). "ประยุทธ์ สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติแน่ แต่คุยทุกเรื่องกับประวิตร". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ (in Thai).
  22. ^ 2 ส.ส.ลาออกเพิ่ม - "พิชารัตน์" ลาออก พปชร. ซบ "รวมไทยสร้างชาติ"
  23. ^ 'บิ๊กตู่' ได้ฤกษ์ 9 มกรา. สมัครสมาชิก รทสช.
  24. ^ 'พีระพันธุ์' รับแนวโน้ม 'บิ๊กตู่' สมัครสมาชิกรทสช. 9 ม.ค.
  25. ^ ประยุทธ์'ประกาศวางมือทางการเมือง ลาออกจากสมาชิก'รทสช.'

External links

  • United Thai Nation Party on Facebook
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Represented in
Parliament (500)
Extra-parliamentaryDefunct parties