Social Action Party
Encyclopedia
The Social Action Party is a political party
in Thailand
.
in 1974 under the leadership of Kukrit Pramoj
. After Kukrit resigned the office of the party leader in December 1985, the former minister of foreign affairs and deputy party leader, Siddhi Savetsila
, led the party.
Internal conflict during the 1986 parliamentary election resulted in a significant loss for the party. Controversy arose as rumor spread that General Arthit Kamlangek
was secretly backing the party. By May 1986, with financial support from big businesses, a faction of the party split off with Boontheng Thongsawasdi to form the United Democracy Party, which proved to be unsuccessful.
Corruption scandals continued to devastate the party. In the fall of 1990, when Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan
threatened to expel the party from his government coalition, founder Kukrit was asked to return briefly to replace Siddhi Savetsila
. Partly because Chatichai had previously served Kukrit as foreign minister, Chatichai ultimately decided not to expel the party.
In December, 1990, along with the Democratic Party
, the Social Action Party withdrew entirely from Chatichai's government coalition, though it later rejoined Suchinda Kraprayoon
's government in April 1992. It left the pro-military coaliliton in June, 1992.
After splitting in to two factions as a result of a power struggle in 1999, the party once again withdrew from the government led by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai
, with 17 Parliament members withdrawing from the ruling coalition.
party. In 2003, the party was disbanded. The Party has been revived in 2008 as Suwit returned, he is currently a member of the Cabinet of Thailand under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
's coalition government.
, pro-free-enterprise fiscal policies, and capitalism
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
History
The Social Action Party was formed by the more liberal members of the Democrat PartyDemocrat 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...
in 1974 under the leadership of Kukrit Pramoj
Kukrit Pramoj
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit Pramoj was a Thai politician and scholar. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand 1973-1974 and was the thirteenth Prime Minister of Thailand, serving in office from 1975-1976.- Early years:Of royal descent, M.R...
. After Kukrit resigned the office of the party leader in December 1985, the former minister of foreign affairs and deputy party leader, Siddhi Savetsila
Siddhi Savetsila
Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila is a retired Thai military officer and a member of the Privy Council of King Bhumibol Adulyadej....
, led the party.
Internal conflict during the 1986 parliamentary election resulted in a significant loss for the party. Controversy arose as rumor spread that General Arthit Kamlangek
Arthit Kamlangek
General Arthit Kamlang-ek was the former Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army and the Supreme Commander of the Thai Armed Forces. He was particularly influential during the 1980s during the government of Prem Tinsulanonda.-Education and early career:...
was secretly backing the party. By May 1986, with financial support from big businesses, a faction of the party split off with Boontheng Thongsawasdi to form the United Democracy Party, which proved to be unsuccessful.
Corruption scandals continued to devastate the party. In the fall of 1990, when Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan
Chatichai Choonhavan
General Chatichai Choonhavan was the Prime Minister of Thailand from 1988 to 1991. He was the only son of Field Marshal Phin Choonhavan, and is of Thai Chinese descent with ancestry from Chenghai District...
threatened to expel the party from his government coalition, founder Kukrit was asked to return briefly to replace Siddhi Savetsila
Siddhi Savetsila
Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila is a retired Thai military officer and a member of the Privy Council of King Bhumibol Adulyadej....
. Partly because Chatichai had previously served Kukrit as foreign minister, Chatichai ultimately decided not to expel the party.
In December, 1990, along with the Democratic 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...
, the Social Action Party withdrew entirely from Chatichai's government coalition, though it later rejoined Suchinda Kraprayoon
Suchinda Kraprayoon
Suchinda Kraprayoon was Prime Minister of Thailand from 7 April 1992 until 24 May 1992.Suchinda, son of Juang and Sompong Kraprayoon, was born 6 August 1933 in the province of Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and is of Chinese and Mon descent...
's government in April 1992. It left the pro-military coaliliton in June, 1992.
After splitting in to two factions as a result of a power struggle in 1999, the party once again withdrew from the government led by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai
Chuan Leekpai
Chuan Leekpai was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 20, 1992 to May 19, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001. A third-generation Thai Chinese, Chuan was born in Trang province in a grass-roofed house. The walls of his family's house were woven from strips of...
, with 17 Parliament members withdrawing from the ruling coalition.
2001–present
By the year 2001, the Social Action Party had lost much of the political support it had back in the 1970s. The 2001 election resulted in the party winning only one seat in parliament. Many of the members, including former leader Suwit Khunkitti, left Social Action for the Thai Rak ThaiThai 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...
party. In 2003, the party was disbanded. The Party has been revived in 2008 as Suwit returned, he is currently a member of the Cabinet of Thailand under Prime Minister 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...
's coalition government.
Ideology
The Social Action Party advocates social conservatismSocial conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
, pro-free-enterprise fiscal policies, and capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
.