From dynasties to dark horses – a new generation steps into Thailand’s Parliament

The February 8 election threw open Parliament’s doors to a new wave of political personalities, ranging from youthful novices to long-time aspiring MPs.

The fresh faces include heirs of powerful political dynasties benefiting from their family’s influence and voter base, well-known public figures, and dark horses.

Some relied on their fame and reputation, while others rode high on the strength of their party’s brand. Here are some of the prominent newcomers that will help shape the chamber’s next chapter:

Family connections

Bhumjaithai’s Natthida “Ploy” Lekudakorn scored a landslide in Buriram, snapping up 54,410 of the votes (72%) and leaving the People’s Party candidate trailing far behind with 13,625.

At just 25 – the minimum age for a candidate – Natthida will become one of the youngest MPs in the new House of Representatives.

The win for the youngster, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the UK, was credited to her family ties with veteran politician and Bhumjaithai founder Newin Chidchob, her uncle.

Known as the godfather of Buriram, Newin built his political and business dynasty in the lower Northeast province. Natthida can also count on the network of her father, Phusit, the chief executive of Buriram Provincial Administrative Organisation.

She was chosen to contest in the constituency previously held by Newin’s son, Bhumjaithai secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob, who was elected separately after running as the party’s No 2 list candidate.

Nuttida “Sine” Thepsutin, the 41-year-old daughter of Somsak Thepsutin, a veteran Pheu Thai politician, is set to debut in the Lower House as the party’s 14th of 16 list candidates elected, according to initial results released by the Election Commission.

Unexpected wins

Democrat Party deputy leader Jury Numkaew, a one-time online influencer, makes his political debut as a first-time MP for Songkhla’s Constituency 2.

He defeated Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, a popular People’s Party candidate, by over 9,000 votes (30,686 to 21,162).

Before joining the Democrats last year, he was widely known as “Auntie Jury” – a crossdressing news presenter who delivered reports in the southern Thai dialect on TikTok. Supat, meanwhile, rose to prominence for leading the fight against COVID-19 as former director of Songkhla’s Sabayoi Hospital and ex-president of the Rural Doctor Society.

Rosarin Saranket, 49, will take her political bow as the New Opportunity Party MP for Uttaradit’s Constituency 2. She secured 45% of the vote to defeat Pheu Thai’s incumbent MP Varuj Siriwat, on 26%.

Rosarin, New Opportunity’s sole representative in Parliament, is the daughter of Saranwut Saranket, a former MP for the northern province. He ran for a seat via the party-list system but fell short when New Opportunity failed to win enough votes.

The People’s Party’s Seksit Yaemsanguansak secured Bangkok’s Constituency 2 with 47% of the vote, trouncing his Bhumjaithai rival, who managed just 19%. Seksit is a Thammasat University political science graduate who protested against the post-coup government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha as a member of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration.

High on the list

Democrat deputy leader and No 4 list candidate Karndee Leopairote – a cryptocurrency guru who studied social, technological and economic trends – will make her parliamentary debut after the party won over 3.6 million votes to earn 12 list seats in Parliament.

Karndee, 50, was appointed as a party executive after former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva returned as leader last October. She is also the Democrats’ third PM candidate after Abhisit and former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij.

Democrat deputy leader Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri, at No 10 on the party list, will be another new face in the Lower House.

Rudklao, 43, is the daughter of former Democrat heavyweight and ex-deputy PM Trairong Suwankiri.

She quit the Democrat Party to contest the 2023 election under the United Thai Nation banner but failed to win. She then returned to the country’s oldest party along with Abhisit and other former Democrats.

Chris Potranandana, the 37-year-old chair of the Economic Party, won his maiden MP seat via the list system along with two other party first-timers.

His rebranded party, formerly known as Zendai, secured just over 1 million votes in the list system, giving them three seats in Parliament.

Party leader General Rangsee Kitiyanasap, formerly managing director of the Army-run Channel 5, did not make the cut after running at No 10 on the list – an arrangement described as a strategy to lure votes for the party from his supporters.

Chris is a former stalwart of the People’s Party’s last two incarnations – Future Forward and Move Forward.

Despite being a co-founder of Future Forward, he abandoned Move Forward to found Zendai – named after a volunteer group that helped vulnerable people through the COVID pandemic. Zendai ran in the 2023 election but failed to win any seats.