List of Prime Ministers of Thailand

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The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chairman of the cabinet of Thailand and represents the government at home and the country abroad.

Contents

The post of prime minister has existed since 1932, after a bloodless revolution forced the absolutist King Prajadhipok to grant for the people of Siam their first constitution. Under the newly established constitutional monarchy, the first prime minister of Siam was Phraya Manopakorn Nititada. At first, the office was called the President of the People's Committee , it was later changed to Prime Minister of Siam when the king deemed it too communistic.

Constitutionally the prime minister is required to be a member of the lower house of the National Assembly (the House of Representatives). He must also gain their approval through a resolution before an official appointment by the king can take place. As a result, the prime minister might succumb to a vote of no confidence and removal in the House. However, this has never happened up to date.

Throughout the post's existence it has mostly been occupied by military leaders from the Royal Thai Army, three holding the rank of field marshal and seven the rank of general. The post of prime minister is currently held by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who was formally appointed to the office on 24 August 2014. Previously he was the de facto head of government as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order, since the coup d'état on 22 May 2014.

Note: The list includes leaders of military juntas and acting prime ministers. However, they are not counted in the official list as provided by the Royal Thai Government

List of Prime Ministers

No.Prime MinisterTerm of officePolitical partyGovernmentElectedMonarch
(Reign)
PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Official portraits of Phraya Manopakorn Nititada.jpg
Phraya Manopakorn Nititada
(1884–1948)
28 June 193220 June 1933358 days Independent 1.
Manopakorn I
King Prajadhipok portrait photograph.jpg

Prajadhipok
(1925–1935)
2.
Manopakorn II
3.
Manopakorn III
2
Phraya Pahol.jpg
Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
(1887–1947)
21 June 193316 December 19385 years, 178 days Khana Ratsadon
(Military faction)
4.
Phahonyothin I
5.
Phahonyothin II
1933
6.
Phahonyothin III
King Ananda Mahidol portrait photograph.jpg

Ananda Mahidol
(1935–1946)
7.
Phahonyothin IV
1937
8.
Phahonyothin V
3
Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram.jpg
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)
16 December 19381 August 19445 years, 229 days Khana Ratsadon
(Military faction)
9.
Plaek I
1938
10.
Plaek II
4
khwng `phaywngs 2475.jpg
Khuang Aphaiwong
(1902–1968)
1 August 194431 August 19451 year, 30 days Independent 11.
Khuang I
5
Tawee Boonyaket.jpg
Thawi Bunyaket
(1904–1971)
31 August 194517 September 194517 days Free Thai 12.
Tawee I
6
Seni Pramoj in 1945.jpg
Seni Pramoj
(1905–1997)
17 September 194531 January 1946136 days Free Thai 13.
Seni I
(4)
khwng `phaywngs 2475.jpg
Khuang Aphaiwong
(1902–1968)
31 January 194624 March 194652 days Independent 14.
Khuang II
1946
7
Pridi Banomyong-portrait.jpg
Pridi Banomyong
(1900–1983)
24 March 194623 August 1946152 days Free Thai 15.
Pridi I
16.
Pridi II
naaykrathmntrii aelaphriyaa efaa~ rabesdcch smedcchphraethphratnr - Flickr - Abhisit Vejjajiva (14).jpg

Bhumibol Adulyadej
(1946–2016)
8
thwaly thamrngnaawaaswasdi.jpg
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
(1901–1988)
23 August 19468 November 19471 year, 79 days Constitutional Front 17.
Thawan I
1946
18.
Thawan II
Phin Choonhavan.jpg
Phin Choonhavan
(1891–1973)
8 November 194710 November 19472 days Military Coup Group
(interim)
(4)
khwng `phaywngs 2475.jpg
Khuang Aphaiwong
(1902–1968)
10 November 19478 April 1948150 days Democrat 19.
Khuang III
20.
Khuang IV
1948
(3)
Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram.jpg
Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(1897–1964)
8 April 194816 September 19579 years, 161 days Conservative Party [1] 21.
Plaek III
22.
Plaek IV
1949
23.
Plaek V
24.
Plaek VI
25.
Plaek VII
1952
Seri Manangkhasila 26.
Plaek VIII
1957
Sarit Dhanarajata.jpg
Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963)
16 September 195721 September 19575 days Military Coup Group
(interim)
9
phcchn saarsin.jpg
Pote Sarasin
(1905–2000)
21 September 19571 January 1958102 days Independent 27.
Pote
10
Thanom Kittikachorn 1960 02.jpg
Thanom Kittikachorn
(1911–2004)
1 January 195820 October 1958292 days National Socialist [2] 28.
Thanom I
1957
11
Sarit Dhanarajata.jpg
Sarit Thanarat
(1908–1963)
20 October 19588 December 1963(Died in office)5 years, 49 days Military Revolution Group
(interim)
Military 29.
Sarit I
(10)
Thanom Kittikachorn 1960 02.jpg
Thanom Kittikachorn
(1911–2004)
9 December 196314 October 19739 years,

309 days

Military 30.
Thanom II
United Thai People 31.
Thanom III
1969
Military Revolution Group
(interim)
32.
Thanom IV
12
Sanya Dharmasakti 1974 (cropped).jpg
Sanya Dharmasakti
(1907–2002)
14 October 197315 February 19751 year, 124 days Independent 33.
Sanya I
34.
Sanya II
(6)
Seni Pramoj in 1945.jpg
Seni Pramoj
(1905–1997)
15 February 197514 March 197527 days Democrat 35.
Seni II
1975
13
Kukrit Pramoj 1974 (cropped).jpg
Kukrit Pramoj
(1911–1995)
14 March 197520 April 19761 year, 37 days Social Action 36.
Kukrit
(6)
Seni Pramoj in 1945.jpg
Seni Pramoj
(1905–1997)
20 April 19766 October 1976169 days Democrat 37.
Seni III
1976
38.
Seni IV
sngad chl``yuu.jpg
Sangad Chaloryu
(1915–1980)
6 October 19768 October 19762 days Military Administration Reform Council
(interim)
14
Thanin Kraivichien 1976.jpg
Thanin Kraivichien
(1927–)
8 October 197620 October 19771 year, 34 days Independent 39.
Thanin
sngad chl``yuu.jpg
Sangad Chaloryu
(1915–1980)
20 October 197710 November 197721 days Military Revolution Group
(interim)
15
Kriangsak Chomanan 1976 (cropped).jpg
Kriangsak Chamanan
(1917–2003)
11 November 19773 March 19802 years, 113 days Military 40.
Kriangsak I
National Democrat 41.
Kriangsak II
1979
16
Prem Tinsulanoda cropped.JPG
Prem Tinsulanonda
(1920–2019)
3 March 19804 August 19888 years, 154 days Military 42.
Prem I
43.
Prem II
1983
44.
Prem III
1986
17
Chatichai Choonhavan 1976.jpg
Chatichai Choonhavan
(1920–1998)
4 August 198823 February 19912 years, 204 days Chart Thai 45.
Chatchai I
1988
46.
Chatchai II
GEN Sundhara Kongsompong, left center, Supreme Commander, Royal Thai Armed Forces, and U.S. Ambassador to Thailand cropped1.jpg
Sunthorn Kongsompong
(1931–1999)
24 February 19912 March 19916 days Military National Peace Keeping Council
(interim)
18
Anand Panyarachun.jpg
Anand Panyarachun
(1932–)
2 March 19917 April 19921 year, 36 days Independent 47.
Anand I
19
Seal of the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand.svg
Suchinda Kraprayoon
(1933–)
7 April 199224 May 199247 days Independent 48.
Suchinda
1992
Seal of the Office of the Prime Minister of Thailand.svg
Meechai Ruchuphan
(1938–)
Acting Prime Minister
24 May 199210 June 199217 days Independent
(18)
Anand Panyarachun.jpg
Anand Panyarachun
(1932–)
10 June 199223 September 1992105 days Independent 49.
Anand II
20
Chuan Leekpai.jpg
Chuan Leekpai
(1938–)
23 September 199213 July 19952 years, 293 days Democrat 50.
Chuan I
1992
21
Banharn Silpa-archa (cropped).jpg
Banharn Silpa-archa
(1932–2016)
13 July 199525 November 19961 year, 135 days Chart Thai 51.
Banharn
1995
22 Chavalit Yongchaiyudh 18 May 2018 01 cropped.jpg Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
(1932–)
25 November 19969 November 1997349 days New Aspiration 52.
Chavalit
1996
(20)
Chuan Leekpai.jpg
Chuan Leekpai
(1938–)
9 November 19979 February 20013 years, 92 days Democrat 53.
Chuan II
23
Thaksin crop.jpg
Thaksin Shinawatra
(1949–)
9 February 200119 September 20065 years, 222 days Thai Rak Thai 54.
Thaksin I
2001
55.
Thaksin II
2005
Sonthi Boonyaratglin (cropped).png
Sonthi Boonyaratglin
(1946–)
19 September 20061 October 200612 days Military Council for National Security
(interim)
24
General Surayud Chulanont.jpg
Surayud Chulanont
(1943–)
1 October 200629 January 20081 year, 120 days Independent 56.
Surayud
25
Samak Sundaravej.JPG
Samak Sundaravej
(1935–2009)
29 January 20088 September 2008224 days People's Power 57.
Samak
2007
26
Somchai Wongsawat 15112008.jpg
Somchai Wongsawat
(1947–)
8 September 20082 December 20089 days People's Power
84 days People's Power 58.
Somchai
Chaovarat Chanweerakul (cropped).jpg
Chaovarat Chanweerakul
(1936–)
Acting Prime Minister
2 December 200817 December 200815 days Independent
27 Abhisit Vejjajiva 2009 official.jpg Abhisit Vejjajiva
(1964–)
17 December 20085 August 20112 years, 231 days Democrat 59.
Abhisit
28
9153ri-Yingluck Shinawatra.jpg
Yingluck Shinawatra
(1967–)
5 August 20117 May 20142 years, 275 days Pheu Thai 60.
Yingluck
2011
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan at Ministerial Conference 2013 crop.jpg
Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan
(1948–)
Acting Prime Minister
7 May 201422 May 201415 days Pheu Thai
29
Prayut Chan-o-cha (cropped) 2016.jpg
Prayut Chan-o-cha
(1954–)
22 May 2014 [3] Incumbent6 years, 68 days Military National Council for Peace and Order
(interim)
61.
Prayut I
King Rama X official (crop).png

Vajiralongkorn
(2016–)
Palang Pracharath 62.
Prayut II
2019

Timeline

Prayut Chan-o-chaYingluck ShinawatraAbhisit VejjajivaSomchai WongsawatSamak SundaravejSurayud ChulanontThaksin ShinawatraChawalit YongchaiyutBanharn Silpa-archaChuan LeekpaiSuchinda KraprayoonAnand PanyarachunChatichai ChoonhavanPrem TinsulanondaKriangsak ChamananThanin KraivichienKukrit PramojSanya DharmasaktiSarit ThanaratThanom KittikachornPote SarasinThawan ThamrongnawasawatPridi BanomyongSeni PramojThawi BunyaketKhuang AphaiwongPlaek PhibunsongkhramPhraya Phahon PhonphayuhasenaPhraya Manopakorn NititadaList of Prime Ministers of Thailand

Living former Prime Ministers

As of July 2020, there are ten living former Thai Prime Ministers.

NameTerm of officeDate of birthPolitical party
Thanin Kraivichien 1976–19775 April 1927 (age 93)non-partisan
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh 1996–199715 May 1932 (age 88) New Aspiration Party
Anand Panyarachun 1991–1992, 19929 August 1932 (age 87)non-partisan
Suchinda Kraprayoon 19926 August 1933 (age 86) Military
Chuan Leekpai 1992–1995; 1997–200128 July 1938 (age 82) Democrat Party
Surayud Chulanont 2006–200828 August 1943 (age 76)non-partisan (Military)
Somchai Wongsawat 200831 August 1947 (age 72) People's Power Party
Thaksin Shinawatra 2001–200626 July 1949 (age 71) Thai Rak Thai
Abhisit Vejjajiva 2008–20113 August 1964 (age 55) Democrat Party
Yingluck Shinawatra 2011–201421 June 1967 (age 53) Pheu Thai Party

See also

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References

Citations
  1. หลักการและนโยบายของชุมนุมธรรมาธิปัตย์. [พระนคร: โรงพิมพ์สหการพานิช], 2490.
  2. Thak Chaloemtiarana (2007), Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism, Ithaca NY: Cornell Southeast Asia Program, p. 88, ISBN   978-0-8772-7742-2
  3. ประกาศแต่งตั้งนายกรัฐมนตรี ลงวันที่ 24 สิงหาคม 2557 [Proclamation on Appointment of Prime Minister dated 24 August 2014](pdf). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai). Bangkok: Cabinet Secretariat. 131, Special Part 159 D: 1. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
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