Bhumjaithai Party
พรรคภูมิใจไทย
AbbreviationBJT
LeaderAnutin Charnvirakul
Secretary-GeneralSaksayam Chidchob
SpokespersonSupamas Issarapakdi
Deputy leaders
TreasurerNathi Ratchakitprakarn
Party Member RegistrarSupachai Jaisamut
FounderNewin Chidchob
Founded5 November 2008 (2008-11-05)
Preceded byPMT (de facto)
KPW (de jure)
HeadquartersChatuchak, Bangkok
Membership (2023)61,703[1]
IdeologyConservatism[2]
Populism[3]
Political positionCentre to centre-right[4][5]
ColoursDark blue and Red
Sloganพูดเเล้วทำ
Said and done
House of Representatives
71 / 500
Website
bhumjaithai.com

Bhumjaithai Party (BJT; Thai: พรรคภูมิใจไทย, RTGS: Phak Phumchai Thai, IPA: [pʰák pʰuːm.t͡ɕaj tʰaj]; lit. 'Thai Pride Party') was founded on 5 November 2008, in anticipation of the 2 December 2008 Constitutional Court of Thailand ruling that dissolved its "de facto predecessor", the Neutral Democratic Party, along with the People's Power Party (PPP), and the Thai Nation Party. After the dissolutions, former members of the Neutral Democratic Party and former members of the PPP faction, the Friends of Newin Group defected to this party.

Bhumjaithai has a populist platform, since some of the platform was drawn from Thaksin Shinawatra's populist Thai Rak Thai party and the People's Power Party.[6] The party has a strong base in Buriram Province.

History

On 15 December 2008, the party endorsed the Democrat Party, forming a six-party coalition government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The party's "de facto" leader and power broker behind joining the Democrat-led coalition is Newin Chidchob. Due to his role as an executive of the PPP predecessor party, the Thai Rak Thai party which was dissolved in 2007, he became ineligible to be a party member for five years. 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 faction in the PPP to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition. This secured enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected prime minister. Bhumjaithai was the second largest coalition partner in the Abhisit government, supplying the ministers of Transport, Commerce, and Interior (Chaovarat Chanweerakul), and four deputy ministers.

For the general election on 3 July 2011, Bhumjaithai forged an alliance with coalition partner Chartthaipattana Party.[7] The party aimed at winning as many as 111 seats in the new parliament.[8] During the campaign, a main BJT canvasser, Suban Chiraphanwanit, was shot dead.[9] Eventually, BJT won 34 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, which observers have interpreted as disappointing.[10] Subsequently, the party's Matchima-faction, led by Somsak Thepsuthin, tried to join the Pheu-Thai-led coalition government of Prime Minister-designate Yingluck Shinawatra, despite the party's ruling out cooperation with Pheu Thai before the elections. The Pheu Thai Party rejected the participation of BJT members.[11]

On 14 September 2012, Anuthin Charnvirakul was elected the new leader of the Bhumjaithai Party during the party's general assembly to elect a new 11-member executive committee. He replaced his father Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who had resigned. Also elected were Saksayam Chidchob as the new secretary-general, Nathee Ratchakijprakarn as treasurer, Sora-ath Klinprathum as an executive committee member and party advisory chairman, and Supamas Issarapakdi as party spokeswoman.[12]

Election results

General elections

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
2011
34 / 500
 1,281,652 3.83% Increase2 seats; Opposition Chavarat Charnvirakul
2014 N/A Invalidated Invalidated Unconstitutional - nullified Anutin Charnvirakul
2019
51 / 500
 3,732,883 10.33% Increase17 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition
2023
70 / 500
 5,015,210[13] 12.77% Increase19 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition

Bangkok Metropolitan Council elections

Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election
2022
0 / 50
 19,789 0.85% No members in Bangkok Metropolitan Council

See also

References

  1. ↑ ข้อมูลพรรคการเมืองที่ยังดำเนินการอยู่ ณ วันที่ 8 มีนาคม 2566
  2. ↑ "Thailand election: How Move Forward's upset win unfolded". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Major players in Thailand's election".
  4. ↑ "Major players in Thailand's election".
  5. ↑ "Thailand's Right-Wing Parties: Keeping Democracy Close But Its Enemies Closer". Fulcrum. 17 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "พรรคภูมิใจไทย - Thailand Political Base". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Thai Pattana unveil alliance". The Nation. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Chetchotiros, Nattaya; Sattaburuth, Aekarach (4 June 2011). "Pheu Thai heads off rival". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "Bhumjaithai canvasser shot dead". Bangkok Post. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  10. ↑ "Bhumjaithai suffers humiliating losses", Bangkok Post, 4 July 2011, retrieved 9 July 2011
  11. ↑ "PT again rejects BJT faction", Bangkok Post, 8 July 2011, retrieved 9 July 2011
  12. ↑ "Anuthin new Bhumjaithai leader", Bangkok Post, 14 October 2012, retrieved 14 October 2012
  13. ↑ https://ectreport.com/overview
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