Friends of Newin Group
Encyclopedia
The Friends of Newin Group ( was a faction of MPs in the People's Power Party
led by Newin Chidchob, former Thai Rak Thai
cabinet minister, in the House of Representatives of Thailand
. After the 2008 political crisis
and Constitutional Court decision, these MPs defected from the People's Power Party
(PPP) to the Bhumjaithai Party.
The Friends of Newin Group was formed as a faction of the PPP in after the 2007 election
in which the pro-Thaksin
People's Power Party under Samak Sundaravej
won the plurality of seats in the National Assembly
. The faction had the highest number of PPP MPs.
After the indictment and resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
in September 2008, Somchai Wongsawat
gained the faction's votes, and the group voted for Somchai for Prime Minister
. Somchai had to resign as the Constitutional court dissolved the People's Power Party and two other coalition partners for election fraud on December 2, 2008. The Friends of Newin Group's MPs were given 60 days to register to a new party or to join an existing one.
On 9 December 2008, the group's leader Newin Chidchob caused a breakthrough in Thai politics by announcing his support for Democrat Party
leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
, of the party that was in opposition to the PPP-led government, as the next Prime Minister of Thailand. He assured Abhisit and Suthep Thuagsuban (General Secretary of the Democrat Party
) that he and his group would vote for Abhisit for Prime Minister, thereby crossing the aisle. It is alleged that Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, coerced the MPs of the Friends of Newin Group to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition, which would secure enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister On December 13, Thaksin Shinawatra
, Newin's former boss and benefactor, in a recorded message played at a National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
(or UDD) rally, blasted the group as 'traitors and betrayers of the people.' On December 15, 235 MPs in the House of Representatives voted for Abhisit versus 198
votes for Pracha Promnok endorsed by the pro-Thaksin party, Pheu Thai Party. Abhisit, leader of the Democrat Party, became the new prime minister.
Thereafter, the MPs of the Friends of Newin group founded the Bhumjaithai Party. Newin supports the Bhumjaithai Party. The Bhumjaithai Party currently has 5 Cabinet posts including the Interior Ministry
.
:
People's Power Party (Thailand)
The People's Power Party was a Thai political party founded on November 9, 1998 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Garn Tienkaew. The party leader was Somchai Wongsawat, the Party Secretary General was Surapong Suebwonglee, and the Party Spokesperson was Kuthep Saikrajarng...
led by Newin Chidchob, former Thai Rak Thai
Thai Rak Thai
The Thai Rak Thai Party was a Thai political party that was officially banned on May 30, 2007, by the Constitutional Court of Thailand due to violations of electoral laws during the 2006 legislative elections. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under Prime Minister and its founder Thaksin...
cabinet minister, in the House of Representatives of Thailand
House of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
. After the 2008 political crisis
2008 Thai political crisis
Since 2008, there has been an ongoing political crisis in Thailand in form of a conflict between the People's Alliance for Democracy and the People's Power Party governments of Prime Ministers Somchai Wongsawat and Samak Sundaravej, respectively, and later between the Democrat Party government of...
and Constitutional Court decision, these MPs defected from the People's Power Party
People's Power Party (Thailand)
The People's Power Party was a Thai political party founded on November 9, 1998 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Garn Tienkaew. The party leader was Somchai Wongsawat, the Party Secretary General was Surapong Suebwonglee, and the Party Spokesperson was Kuthep Saikrajarng...
(PPP) to the Bhumjaithai Party.
The Friends of Newin Group was formed as a faction of the PPP in after the 2007 election
Thai general election, 2007
The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections...
in which the pro-Thaksin
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
People's Power Party under Samak Sundaravej
Samak Sundaravej
Samak Sundaravej was a Thai Chinese politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the People's Power Party in 2008.-Early life and family:...
won the plurality of seats in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Thailand
The National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...
. The faction had the highest number of PPP MPs.
After the indictment and resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
Samak Sundaravej
Samak Sundaravej was a Thai Chinese politician who briefly served as the Prime Minister of Thailand and Minister of Defense in 2008, as well as the leader of the People's Power Party in 2008.-Early life and family:...
in September 2008, Somchai Wongsawat
Somchai Wongsawat
Somchai Wongsawat is a Thai politician, as well as former executive member of the People's Power Party whose political rights have been disfranchised by the Constitutional Court for five years....
gained the faction's votes, and the group voted for Somchai for Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
. Somchai had to resign as the Constitutional court dissolved the People's Power Party and two other coalition partners for election fraud on December 2, 2008. The Friends of Newin Group's MPs were given 60 days to register to a new party or to join an existing one.
On 9 December 2008, the group's leader Newin Chidchob caused a breakthrough in Thai politics by announcing his support for Democrat Party
Democrat Party (Thailand)
The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...
leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
, of the party that was in opposition to the PPP-led government, as the next Prime Minister of Thailand. He assured Abhisit and Suthep Thuagsuban (General Secretary of the Democrat Party
Democrat Party (Thailand)
The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...
) that he and his group would vote for Abhisit for Prime Minister, thereby crossing the aisle. It is alleged that Army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, General Anupong Paochinda, coerced the MPs of the Friends of Newin Group to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition, which would secure enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected Prime Minister On December 13, Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
, Newin's former boss and benefactor, in a recorded message played at a National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship , whose supporters are commonly called "Red Shirts", is a political pressure group opposed to the People's Alliance for Democracy , the 2006 Thai military coup, and supporters of the coup. Notable UDD leaders include Jatuporn Prompan, Nattawut...
(or UDD) rally, blasted the group as 'traitors and betrayers of the people.' On December 15, 235 MPs in the House of Representatives voted for Abhisit versus 198
votes for Pracha Promnok endorsed by the pro-Thaksin party, Pheu Thai Party. Abhisit, leader of the Democrat Party, became the new prime minister.
Thereafter, the MPs of the Friends of Newin group founded the Bhumjaithai Party. Newin supports the Bhumjaithai Party. The Bhumjaithai Party currently has 5 Cabinet posts including the Interior Ministry
Ministry of Interior (Thailand)
The Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand is an important Cabinet-level department in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is given wide ranging responsibilities over many aspects...
.
Members
Currently, the Bhumjaithai Party, where the former Friends of Newin MPs are now, has about 32 members in the House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of Thailand
The House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand is the lower house of the National Assembly of Thailand, the legislative branch of the Thai Government. The system of government of Thailand is that of a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy. The system of the Thai...
:
- Ransri Timatoka
- Monchai Chatwattanasiri
- Prasit Tangsrikiartikul
- Snong Thepauksonarong
- Sophon Saram
- Panya Sripanya
- Chakrin Pattanathamrongchit
- Apirom Polwiset
- Boonjong Wongthrairat
- Supachai Phosu
- Veera Rakkwamsuk (died August 24, 2009)
- Thevarit Nikorndej
- Chai ChidchobChai ChidchobChai Chidchob has been the President of the National Assembly of Thailand and the Speaker of the House of Representatives since May 15, 2008. He began his career in politics by being appointed as a kamnan in Buri Ram Province and became known by many locals as "Kamnan Chai".His first experience in...
- Newin's father and President of the Parliament, Speaker of the House - Permpoon Thongsiri
- Prutthichai Viriyaroj
- Pattana Sangsthram
- Chertchai Vicheinvan
- Thweewat Ruthirachai
- Suchart Chokchaivatthanakarn
- Prachak Keawklahan
- Chatuphorn Chareonchue
- Vichien Udomsak
- Chaovarat ChanweerakulChaovarat ChanweerakulChaovarat Chanweerakul, or Chavarat Charnvirakul is a Thai politician. He had served as an Acting Prime Minister of Thailand as a result of the 2008 Thai political crisis....
- former acting PM, not an MP