Meet scholar-turned-politician Rachada – the new face of Thailand’s government

Professor-turned-politician Rachada Dhnadirek has been chosen to lead an all-female communications team tasked with shielding the government from growing public criticism over the rising oil prices and economic downturn.

Thailand’s fourth female government spokeswoman, Rachada, acknowledged the “imminent challenges” she faces, but highlighted clear and effective communication from the government as essential in fostering public understanding and trust.

The spokeswoman’s promise

“I will do my best to deliver clear and complete information, so the public has a thorough understanding that helps alleviate the hardships people are facing,” Rachada told reporters at Government House after taking office on April 7.

She vowed her team would tighten coordination with ministries and agencies to provide the public with clear, accurate, comprehensive and timely information as new issues arise.

Rachada, 50, will lead three young female politicians in the spokespersons’ team – Lalida Persvivatana, Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan, and Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn.

Lalida and Ploythalay are colleagues of Rachada in the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, while Patdarasm is from the second-largest coalition partner, Pheu Thai.

The title of Thailand’s first-ever female spokesperson belongs to Ladawan Wongsriwong, who was appointed in 1991 under Anand Panyarachun’s post-coup administration. Two other women have also served in the role: Titima Chaisang, spokeswoman for Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration in 2011, and Narumon Pinyosinwat, who served during General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s second tenure.

Academic turned politician

Born in Bangkok on August 18, 1975, Rachada earned a bachelor's degree in business administration at Mahidol University before moving to the UK to complete two master’s degrees – in international accounting and financial management (Nottingham University), and in corporate strategy and governance (Glasgow University). After returning to Thailand, she obtained a doctorate in international business from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

Rachada began her academic career at her alma mater, Mahidol University, serving as an assistant professor of public administration for over a decade. During this period, she also taught courses in critical and creative thinking at Chulalongkorn University.

She attributes her shift into politics to the turmoil of 2006, when mass protests against then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest culminated in the September military coup. The instability deepened just months later, when a string of bomb attacks on New Year celebrations in Bangkok left six people dead and dozens injured.

“I made my decision in 2006, [when] there was political upheaval in my country. I was an ordinary citizen who disliked Thaksin so much. I felt that I could do more as an observer or a commentator. I could be a good player and a much better one than the existing politicians, definitely much better than the ones who deserved to be ousted,” Rachada was quoted as saying in the 2018 book “Compelled by Duty, Conscripted by Destiny: Portraits of 16 Asian Women at the Frontline of Democratic Struggle”, authored by John Coronel.

Joining the Democrats

Rachada opted to join the Democrat Party, the leader of the opposition, while Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai Party was in power. However, having no personal ties with any Democrat politician, she had little chance of being selected as an election candidate.

She got in touch with an old friend whose father happened to work with former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai. Her friend’s father arranged a meeting at party headquarters, where she spoke with Chuan and received his blessing.

Rachada made her political debut in 2007, elected as an MP for Bangkok. She served as shadow deputy spokesperson for the Democrats, the only party in opposition to a coalition government led by Thaksin’s proxy, Samak Sundaravej. She was re-elected four years later in 2011.

When the Democrats joined Prayut’s second administration in 2019, Rachada was appointed as a deputy government spokesperson.

She wore many hats as a Democrat politician, serving on the party executive committee, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (as Women’s Caucus vice-chair), the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, and the Liberal International Human Rights Committee.

After two decades with the Democrats, she quit the party last year to join Bhumjaithai.

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk