From ‘unknown’ to power player: Thai Ruamphalang Party stuns rivals
The Thai Ruamphalang Party has positioned itself as a growing force in Thai politics after a string of shock victories catapulted it to sixth spot in the February 8 election.
Its candidates took on roles as giant slayers in several constituencies, defeating rivals who had been tipped as favourites.
Thai Ruamphalang, whose stronghold is Ubon Ratchathani in the lower Northeast, secured six seats – three times the number it won in 2023.
One of the six came via the list system, while the rest were constituency wins – four in Ubon Ratchathani and one in the southern province of Surat Thani.
The party secured more than half of the 11 constituencies it contested, winning five of six in Ubon Ratchathani and one of five in Surat Thani.
Wasawat Poungponsri, the party’s 32-year-old leader, has become its sole list MP, as per initial results released by the Election Commission.
With six MP seats in hand, the party is in a strong position to join the new coalition government being formed by the election winner, Bhumjaithai.
Small party, big heart
Wasawat attributed the party’s impressive performance to its grassroots work with communities, including taking care of residents affected by last year’s border clashes.
“People voted for us because of what we have done for them. They don’t care whether we are just a small party,” he said.
The MP-elect said he was well aware of the suffering endured by Ubon Ratchathani residents and young troops deployed there, as his home is only 10 kilometres from Chong An Ma border pass, where Thai and Cambodian forces clashed in December.
Wasawat pledged to push for higher allowances and better welfare for border troops if his party joins the ruling coalition.
“They deserve proper welfare in return for their hard work and sacrifice in protecting national security,” he added.
Slaying giants
Although it has existed for over four years and joined the coalition after winning two seats in 2023, Thai Ruamphalang remained largely unknown beyond its political stronghold. However, it managed to surpass national heavyweights such as Palang
Pracharath, Prachachat, Economic Party, United Thai Nation, and Thai Sang Thai in the latest national vote.
Former ruling party Palang Pracharath and ex-coalition partner Prachachat each won five seats. The Economic Party earned three seats, while United Thai Nation and Thai Sang Thai secured just two each.
Thai Ruamphalang was founded in October 2021 as Pheu Thai Ruamphalang. Although their Thai names are spelt slightly differently, the new party was seen as a "branch” of the powerful Shinawatra clan’s Pheu Thai Party.
Wasawat repeatedly denied any connection, insisting that Pheu Thai Ruamphalang was not a proxy for any individual or political group.
He explained that the party’s original name was proposed by a local leader of the red shirts loyal to Pheu Thai’s patriarch, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
At its 2023 election debut, the fledgling party contested only two Ubon Ratchathani constituencies, fielding 19 list candidates.
It drew a blank in the list system, but both constituency candidates – Phimpakarn Ponsamuk and Somsak Boonprachom – defeated strong rivals and were reelected with large majorities in this year’s polls.
The party’s current name, Thai Ruamphalang, was adopted at a general meeting in April 2024 as part of a rebranding effort under the slogan “Think locally, act globally”.
Wasawat was born in the Northeast’s Nakhon Ratchasima province to a family of politicians.
He graduated from Huachiew Chalermprakiet University and then furthered his studies at Guilin University of Aerospace Technology in China, where he became fluent in Chinese.
Before entering politics, Wasawat worked in his family’s tapioca starch business. His first political role was as secretary to a former chief of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administrative Organisation.
He became party leader when his aunt, former MP Jittawan Wangsuphakijkosol, founded Pheu Thai Ruamphalang in 2021.