Thai Chana Party promises 'perfect democracy', nominates Chatumongkol as top candidate
Thai Chana Party has named former labour minister Chatumongkol Sonakul as its prime minister candidate for the upcoming general election in May.
In a ceremony at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument on Friday, Thai Chana leader Jakapong Cheunduang announced that his party’s key election mandate is tackling poverty.
The ceremony was held to officially announce the party to the public.
“Thai Chana will bring a ‘perfect democracy’ to Thailand, one that is completely unshackled from dictatorship,” he said. “We aim to overcome all differences to drive the country forward, build a peaceful society and eradicate social disparity.”
Jakapong also declared that his party is in no way aligning with PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is running for another term under the United Thai Nation Party.
The party then announced Chatumongol as its PM candidate.
Chatumongol, 79, was a labour minister in Prayut’s government from 2019 to 2020. Prior to that, he served as a Bank of Thailand governor from 1997 to 2001.
After graduating with a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 1969, he joined the Finance Ministry as director-general of the Tax Department. He later became the ministry’s permanent secretary from 1995 to 1997.
Thai Chana Party was formed in August 2021 and currently has 5,697 members.
