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This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Thailand Politics, sometimes defined as the art and science of government[1], is a process by which collective decisions are made within groups. ... Thailand coat of arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Thailand had been ruled by kings since the 13th century. ...

King Bhumibol Adulyadej Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra National Assembly Senate House of Representatives Political parties Elections Latest: 2005 - Upcoming: 2006 Human rights South Thailand insurgency Foreign relations Foreign aid

See also History of Thailand

The kings in the current Chakri dynasty of Thailand are often referred to as Rama followed by Roman ordinal in English translation. ... King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: ; ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. ... The following is a list of Prime Ministers of Thailand: Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, (1932-1933) General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena, (1933-1938) Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, (1938-1944) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1944-1945) Tawee Boonyaket, (1945) Seni Pramoj, (1945) Major Khuang Abhaiwongse, (1946) Luang Praditmanutham, (1946) Rear Admiral Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินชาติชั่ว, IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the current caretaker prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ... The National Assembly (Rathasapha) is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Political parties in Thailand lists political parties in Thailand. ... Politics of Thailand Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Thailand ... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... National legislative elections will be held in Thailand on 2 April 2006, following the decision by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to dissolve the lower house of the Thai legislature, the House of Representatives. ... Human Rights in Thailand The constitution provides for freedom of speech, press, peaceful assembly and association, religion, and movement within the country and abroad. ... Flag of Pattani Raya, a symbol of Pattani separatism The South Thailand insurgency is a separatist campaign centered in the Pattani region, three southern provinces of Thailand, with violence increasingly spilling over into neighbouring provinces and threatening to extend up to the national capital in Bangkok. ... Thailands foreign policy includes support for ASEAN in the interest of regional stability and emphasis on a close and longstanding security relationship with the United States. ... Foreign Aid to Thailand On July 31, 2003, Thailand repaid its outstanding obligations under a standby arrangement from the International Monetary Fund designed to help it recover from the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis. ... The history of Thailand begins with the migration of the Thais into what is now Thailand during the first millennium. ...

Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. Thais Love Thais; TRT) is a political party in Thailand. As of 2005 it was the ruling party, led by the prime minister and its founder, Thaksin Shinawatra. TRT won the election of 2001 and election of 2005. The party has no clear ideological platform, but is commonly described as "populist". A political party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินชาติชั่ว, IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the current caretaker prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... Populism is a political ideology or rhetorical style that holds that the common person is oppressed by the elite in society, which exists only to serve its own interests, and therefore, the instruments of the State need to be grasped from this self-serving elite and instead used for the...

The name is occasionally translated into English as the "Thai Unity Party", but TRT has no connection to the now defunct Ruam Thai Party, which was also known as the Thai Unity Party.

History

The Thai Rak Thai was officially registered on July 14, 1998, by telecommunications billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra and 22 other founding members. It was built largely by amalgamating pre-existing parties and factions, although there were a significant number of new politicians. In the 2001 general election, the TRT won 248 seats in the 500 seat House of Representatives, giving it an absolute majority, and making Thaksin the new prime minister. 40% of elected MPs were freshmen^[1]It ruled in a coalition with the New Aspiration Party and the Thai Nation Party. The governing parties together had 342 seats, the largest ruling coalition bloc in Thai history. July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... BlackBerry 7100t Telecommunications is the communication of information over a distance. ... Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Thaksin Shinawatra (Thai: ทักษิณ ชินชาติชั่ว, IPA: [ ; born July 26, 1949), Thai politician, is the current caretaker prime minister of Thailand and the leader of the populist Thai Rak Thai party. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The New Aspiration Party (Phak Khwam Wang Mai) is a political party in Thailand. ... Chart Thai Party (พรรคชาติไทย phak chaat thai), also translated as the Thai Nation Party, is a conservative political party in Thailand. ...

In government the party has combined populist policies such as cash grants to villages (used for microcredit loans) and a 30 baht health scheme (allowing anyone to receive medical treatment for a small fee) with strong support for United States foreign policy. The latter included contributing a small number of troops to the United States-led coalition in Iraq. // Microfinance is the provision of financial services to the very poor, and includes loans (microcredit), savings, microinsurance and other financial innovations. ...

At the latest legislative elections on February 6, 2005, the party won 60.7% of the popular vote and 375 out of 500 seats, enlarging the previous absolute majority. Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Factions

As an agglomeration of several different parties, Thai Rak Thai politicians owe their allegiance to different factions. Precise figures on faction membership do not exist, but the best estimates of the numerical strength of the major factions are provided below. These numbers are based on the membership of the House of Representatives elected in the 2005 general election, which was dissolved on February 24, 2006. Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... In parliamentary systems, a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a legislature at the call of an election. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• Wang Bua Ban - Led by Thaksin's sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat, this faction is one of the party's most important groupings, as it includes many members of Prime Minister's inner circle. The faction's base is Thaksin's home province of Chiang Mai. It is estimated that Wang Bua Ban commands the support of over 30 MPs (as of December 2005), mostly from the northern region.

• Wang Nam Yom - Originally a splinter group from Wang Bua Ban, Wang Nam Yom is led by Labour Minister Somsak Thepsutin and Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who also serves as Thai Rak Thai's Secretary-General. With the financial backing of Suriya, whose family controls the largest auto parts manufactuer in Thailand, some observers claim that this faction has the resources to form a party in its own right. The group is said to include over 100 MPs, hailing from the northern, northeastern and central regions of Thailand.[1]

• Wang Nam Yen - This is the most notorious faction, led by the veteran political power-broker, Sanoh Thienthong, a former Interior Minister who now holds the title of Chief Advisor to the Thai Rak Thai Party. A native of Sa Kaeo province, Sanoh in the 1990s built a political empire that came to dominate several border provinces in eastern and northeastern Thailand. Rather than start a political party of his own, however, Sanoh preferred to play the role of kingmaker by shifting his group from party to party. With the collapse in 1992 of the pro-military government, which Sanoh supported, the faction moved to the Chart Thai Party, which went on to win the elections held in 1995. Dissatisfied with his treatment by Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-Archa, Sanoh then defected to the New Aspiration Party, giving it enough support to narrowly win the 1996 elections. However, with New Aspiration's star waning after it was forced out of power in 1997, Sanoh decided to cast his lot with Thai Rak Thai before the 2001 elections. Since joining Thai Rak Thai, however, Wang Nam Yen has largely been sidelined by Thaksin, who does not completely trust Sanoh. As a result, Sanoh has become one of Thaksin's most vocal critics within the Thai Rak Thai Party. Wang Nam Yen's electoral fortunes have also declined slightly since joining Thai Rak Thai at the expense of other factions, and as of February 2006, Sanoh commands the loyalty of only 37 MPs.[2]

• Wang Phayanak - This group is led by Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat, who was leader of the small Seritham Party before it merged with Thai Rak Thai after the 2001 elections. Most of the faction's following of approximately 30 MPs (as of December 2005) hail from the northeastern region, where the group often competes with Wang Nam Yen for influence.

• Wang Lam Takong - This faction is composed of the remnants of the old Chart Pattana (National Development) Party, which merged into Thai Rak Thai before the 2005 elections. Chart Pattana's former leader, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop, serves as the head of this group. The faction's influence derives from its strength in the country's second-most populous province, Nakhon Ratchasima, which was the stronghold of Chart Pattana. Wang Lam Katong's membership is estimated to include as many as 20 MPs.

• Bangkok Faction - The leader of this group is Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, who was a key figure in the former Palang Dharma Party that Thaksin led in the mid-1990s. As a result, Sudarat is said to be capable of wielding significant influence over the Prime Minister. The faction includes all the Thai Rak Thai's MPs who represent Bangkok and a handful of others from the surrounding region. Together with a small number of party-list MPs allied with Sudarat, the faction's total membership is estimated to include over 30 MPs.

• Chonburi Faction - Former Sports & Tourism Minister Sonthaya Khunpluem leads this faction, which split from the Chart Thai Party before the 2005 elections to join Thai Rak Thai. Sonthaya's father is the infamous Somchai Khunpluem, the "godfather" of Chonburi who is better know as "Kamnan Po". The dominant political force in the eastern provinces of Chonburi and Rayong, this faction counts approximately 10 to 15 MPs under its wing.

• Buri Ram Faction - Like the Chonburi Faction, this group also defected from the Chart Thai Party before the 2005 elections. The faction's leader is Prime Minister's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, probably the least popular member of Thai Rak Thai owing to his alleged involvement in numerous scandals throughout his poitical career. With a solid base in Newin's home province of Buri Ram and in neighboring Surin Province, the faction is estimated to include 10 to 15 MPs.

• Phor Mod Dam - This group, also known as "Rim Nam", is led by Deputy House Speaker Suchart Tancharoen, a key figure in the former New Aspiration Party, which merged with Thai Rak Thai after the 2001 elections. The faction has around 15 members[3].

• Maleenont Faction - Led by Sports & Tourism Minister (as of February 2006) Pracha Maleenont, whose family controls the local broadcasting and entertainment group BEC World. This group's influence derives from the Maleenont family's role as one of the leading financiers of the Thai Rak Thai Party. The faction controls approximately 10 MPs (as of December 2006).

• Pongsak Faction - Under the leadership of Transport Minister (as of February 2006) Pongsak Raktapongpisak, this group has emerged recently as a significant force within the party, counting approximately 30 MPs as supporters as of December 2005. Pongsak's alleged close friendship with Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, the wife of Prime Minister Thaksin, is said to allow him to wield considerable influence over party and government affairs.

A street scene in Chiang Mai, showing (centre right), a gate of the old city wall. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Northern Thailand usually describes the area covered by 17 provinces. ... Suriya Jungrungreangkit (born December 10, 1954, Thai: สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ) is a Thai politician of the Thai Rak Thai party. ... Northern Thailand usually describes the area covered by 17 provinces. ... For other uses, see Isan (disambiguation). ... Central Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. ... Sa Kaeo (Thai สระแก้ว) is a province (changwat) of Thailand. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... Thailand is divided into 76 provinces ( Thai: จังหวัด, changwat, singular and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces - sometimes the East and Central are grouped together. ... For other uses, see Isan (disambiguation). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Chart Thai Party (พรรคชาติไทย phak chaat thai), also translated as the Thai Nation Party, is a conservative political party in Thailand. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Aspiration Party (Phak Khwam Wang Mai) is a political party in Thailand. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs cleanup. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs cleanup. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Isan (disambiguation). ... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... Nakhon Ratchasima (often shortened to Korat, Thai นครราชสีมา) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Bangkok from the Chao Phraya River at sunset, July 2004 The Wat Phra Kaew temple Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep ( (help· info)), or Krung Thep Maha Nakhon ( (help· info), IPA: ), is the capital and largest city of Thailand, with an official 1990 census population of 8,538,610. ... Chart Thai Party (พรรคชาติไทย phak chaat thai), also translated as the Thai Nation Party, is a conservative political party in Thailand. ... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... Chon Buri (Thai ชลบุรี) is a province (changwat) of Thailand. ... Thailand is divided into 76 provinces ( Thai: จังหวัด, changwat, singular and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces - sometimes the East and Central are grouped together. ... Chon Buri (Thai ชลบุรี) is a province (changwat) of Thailand. ... Rayong province (Thai spelling ระยอง) is a province (changwat) of Thailand. ... Chart Thai Party (พรรคชาติไทย phak chaat thai), also translated as the Thai Nation Party, is a conservative political party in Thailand. ... Legislative elections were held in Thailand on 6 February 2005. ... Geography Buriram is located at the southern end of the Khorat Plateau, with several extinct volcanoes around the province. ... Surin (Thai สุรินทร์) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... The New Aspiration Party (Phak Khwam Wang Mai) is a political party in Thailand. ... This article needs cleanup. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official web site
• ARDA - TRT Factions
• Thai Media Project - 2Bangkok.com
• "Bangkokian: Pongsak Carves Out His Own Turf," The Nation, December 23, 2005