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United Thai Nation Party

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United Thai Nation Party
พรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ
AbbreviationUTN
LeaderPirapan Salirathavibhaga
Secretary-GeneralAkanat Promphan
SpokespersonAkkradech Wongpitakroj
FounderSeksakon Atthawong
Founded31 March 2021; 4 years ago (2021-03-31)
Split fromPalang Pracharath Party
Democrat Party (Partial)
Preceded byTerd Thai Party [th]
Headquarters35/3 Soi Aree 5 Phahonyothin Rd.
Phaya Thai, Bangkok
Membership (2023)50,652[1]
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing to Far-right[9]
Colours  Blue
Anthem"เพลงประจำพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ"
('Hymn of United Thai Nation Party')[10]
House of Representatives
36 / 500
PAO Chief Executives (including party affiliates)
6 / 76
Website
unitedthaination.or.th

The United Thai Nation Party (Thai: พรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ) is an ultra-conservative[9] nationalist Thai political party founded on 31 March 2021 by Seksakon Atthawong, the former Deputy Minister to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. In the run-up to the 2023 general election, then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha joined the party on 9 January 2023 as its candidate for the position.[11] The party emerged as the fifth largest party in Thailand, winning 36 seats in the House of Representatives and 12.55% of the vote. The party has been described as ultra-conservative,[2][3][4] pro-military,[2][5] and monarchist.[2][6] Currently, it is the third largest party in the ruling government coalition since 2023.

History

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Founding Period (2021)

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United Thai Nation Party is a political party, No. 5/2021, registered on 31 March 2021, with Seksakon Atthawong as the founder of the party.[12] There party’s first headquarter was established at 169/98 Serm Sub Building Ratchadapisek Rd., Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok.[13]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s decision to join the party

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On Friday, 23 December 2022, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he had decided to apply for membership of the United Thai Nation Party and was ready to accept the nomination from party members for another term as prime minister. In the 2023 election, there had been talks with Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party.[14] It was expected that Prayut will assume the position of party chairman and chairman of the steering committee or the party's superboard as well.[15] In the afternoon of the same day, the Party Executive Committee convened a meeting at the Party headquarters on Soi Aree.[16]

After the announcement of Prayut’s membership, Seksakol Atthawong, leader of the Terd Thai Party, decided to resign from the party, and rejoined the United Thai Nation Party, causing him to leave the position of the Terd Thai Party leader.[17] Chatchawal Kong-udom, the strategy chairman of the Thai Local Power Party, gave an interview that he was preparing to join the United Thai Nation Party, but did not specify whether he would resign from being an MP or not.[18] Then Party Leader Peeraphan, Party Secretary Akanat, Duangrit, the Party Deputy Leader and Party Treasurer Prakromsak held a press conference at the Party Headquarters after the meeting of the Executive Committee.[19]

On 26 December 2022, Chatchawal, together with Noppadol Kaewsupat, another party-list MP from the Thai Local Power Party, submitted a letter of resignation from being an MP and party member by Chatchawal prepare to launch as a member of the United Thai Nation Party.[20] The next day, Chatchawal along with Trairong Suwankiri and Chumpol Kanchana, two former members of the Democrat Party Advisory Council has officially launched as a member of the United Thai Nation Party.[21] On the same day, party leader Peeraphan said Gen Prayut would apply for membership in early 2023 after the New Year.[22]

In early 2023, there was a news that Prayut was preparing to apply for membership in the United Thai Nation Party in mid-January.[23] Prayut gave an interview to reporters on 3 January 2023, stating that he would definitely apply for membership in the United Thai Nation Party, but had not yet set a clear date. It also did not confirm whether he would be the party chairman and chairman of the party's super board according to previous news.[24] On the same day, Picharat Laohaphongchana, party-list MP of the Palang Pracharath Party has submitted a letter of resignation from being an MP and a member of the party to join the United Thai Nation Party.[25]

The next day, there was news that Prayut was preparing to apply for a party membership at the launch event conference on Monday, 9 January 2023 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.[26] Peeraphan said it was likely that Prayut would apply for a party membership that day but still have to wait for a clear conclusion.[27]

Prayut and Pirapan as Prime Ministerial candidate

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Later, on 25 March 2023, at Exhibition Hall 5, Exhibition and Convention Center, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, the Party organized an event to launch all 400 candidates for the House of Representatives all across the country. This was including the launch of Prayut as the party's prime ministerial candidate in the first order, and Prayut also announced Pirapan Salirathavibhaga as the party's prime ministerial candidate in the second order, resulting in the Party creating 2 candidates for Prime Minister.

Later, on 11 July 2023, Prayut announced his decision to resign from the party and retire from politics.[28]

General election results

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Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election Election leader
2023
36 / 500
 4,673,691 11.90% Increase36 seats; Junior partner in governing coalition Prayut Chan-o-cha

References

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  1. ^ ข้อมูลพรรคการเมืองที่ยังดำเนินการอยู่ ณ วันที่ 8 มีนาคม 2566
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Kongkirati, Prajak (December 2023). "Power without the Polls: Thai-Style Authoritarian Fragility amid the Defeat of Military-Backed Parties". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 45 (3). ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute: 406–413. doi:10.2307/27278480. ISSN 0129-797X. JSTOR 27278480. Retrieved 16 May 2025. The two pro-military parties—the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) and Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP)—failed to secure the support of the Thai electorate. [...] the UTN turned to a more ideological, hardline political approach. It positioned itself as ultraconservative and staunchly pro-monarchy and as a bulwark against perceived threats from radical youths and progressive political parties...
  3. ^ a b c Alderman, Petra (24 January 2025). "Subverting elections in Thailand: inclusion and independence in election commission design and practice". International Political Science Review. doi:10.1177/01925121241312884. ISSN 0192-5121. Retrieved 16 May 2025. Other notable absences included PPRP and its ultra-conservative splinter, the United Thai Nation (UTN) party.
  4. ^ a b c "Ultra-right wing". bangkokpost. 13 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Nethipo, Viengrat; Kuhonta, Erik Martinez; Horatanakun, Akanit (August 2023). "Regime Consolidation Through Deinstitutionalisation: A Case Study of the 2019 Elections in Thailand". Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs. 42 (2). Sage: 265–285. doi:10.1177/18681034231185941. ISSN 1868-1034. Retrieved 16 May 2025. Military parties, including Palang Pracharat and the United Thai Nation, experienced alliance splits and resounding electoral defeats, as voters struggled to differentiate between the two.
  6. ^ a b c Macan-Markar, Marwaan (June 2023). "Will Thailand's Democratic Spring Be Allowed to Bloom?". Global Asia. 18 (2). East Asia Foundation. ISSN 1976-068X. Retrieved 16 May 2025. How else does one explain the May elections, when the two parties that represented the incumbent party of military men were dealt humiliating blows? The one headed by Gen. Prayuth, the newly formed hard-right, ultra-royalist United Thai Nation, ended up with a mere 36 seats.
  7. ^ "Democratic Consolidation or Authoritarian Survival: Thailand's Next General Election in 2023". fulcrum. 13 January 2023.
  8. ^ "รทสช. ย้ำจุดยืนอุดมการณ์พรรค 'อนุรักษ์นิยมสมัยใหม่'". thaipost.
  9. ^ a b [2][3][4][6]
  10. ^ "เพลงประจำพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ". YouTube.
  11. ^ "Thailand's Prayut Changes Party, Says Willing to Remain PM". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  12. ^ "เสกสกล"ขอลุยทำพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ หนุน"ประยุทธ์"เป็นนายกฯ
  13. ^ ทำความรู้จัก “รวมไทยสร้างชาติ” พรรคใหม่ หนุน “บิ๊กตู่” นั่งนายกฯ
  14. ^ ""บิ๊กตู่" ประกาศเป็นแคนดิเดตนายกฯ "รวมไทยสร้างชาติ" ยันคุย "พี่ป้อม" แล้ว สัมพันธ์พี่น้องทหารไม่แตกหัก". mgronline.com (in Thai). 23 December 2022.
  15. ^ ""สุชาติ"จ่อนั่งซูเปอร์บอร์ดพรรครทสช. มอบ "เอกนัฏ" วางระบบพรรคใหม่". bangkokbiznews (in Thai). 19 December 2022.
  16. ^ "กก.บห.รวมไทยสร้างชาติ ประชุมบ่ายนี้ หลัง "ประยุทธ์" ตอบรับร่วมสู้เลือกตั้ง 2566". thairath (in Thai). 23 December 2022.
  17. ^ ไปไหนไปกัน! 'แรมโบ้'ลาออกหน.พรรคเทิดไท ย้ายซบ'รทสช.'เสริมทัพ'บิ๊กตู่'
  18. ^ "ชัช เตาปูน” ไหลตาม“บิ๊กตู่”ซบ"รวมไทยสร้างชาติ"นั่งทีมยุทธศาสตร์
  19. ^ 'พีระพันธุ์' ยิ้มไม่หุบ แถลงข่าว 'บิ๊กตู่' เข้า รทสช. เป็นนายกฯได้อีก 2 ปีก็ไม่ใช่อุปสรรค
  20. ^ 'ชัช เตาปูน' ลาออกส.ส.พลังท้องถิ่นไท จ่อซบรวมไทยสร้างชาติ
  21. ^ "'ไตรรงค์-ชุมพล-ชัช เตาปูน' เปิดตัวซบรวมไทยสร้างชาติยก 'บิ๊กตู่' ผู้มากบารมี!". เดลินิวส์ (in Thai).
  22. ^ Kaset (27 December 2022). "พีระพันธุ์ แย้ม ประยุทธ์ สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติ หลังปีใหม่". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ (in Thai).
  23. ^ "จับตา 'บิ๊กตู่' สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติกลางเดือนม.ค.!". เดลินิวส์ (in Thai).
  24. ^ Pum (3 January 2023). "ประยุทธ์ สมัครสมาชิกพรรครวมไทยสร้างชาติแน่ แต่คุยทุกเรื่องกับประวิตร". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ (in Thai).
  25. ^ 2 ส.ส.ลาออกเพิ่ม – "พิชารัตน์" ลาออก พปชร. ซบ "รวมไทยสร้างชาติ"
  26. ^ 'บิ๊กตู่' ได้ฤกษ์ 9 มกรา. สมัครสมาชิก รทสช.
  27. ^ 'พีระพันธุ์' รับแนวโน้ม 'บิ๊กตู่' สมัครสมาชิกรทสช. 9 ม.ค.
  28. ^ ประยุทธ์'ประกาศวางมือทางการเมือง ลาออกจากสมาชิก'รทสช.'
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