From rural schoolteacher to House speaker: the rise of Sophon Saram

Sophon Saram, a seven-time Bhumjaithai MP from Buri Ram province, has been elected as new speaker of the House of Representatives after receiving overwhelming support from the parties forming the new coalition government.

His election last Sunday (March 15) came just two days after the political veteran resigned as a deputy prime minister in PM Anutin Charnvirakul’s caretaker government.

At the opening session of the newly elected House, Sophon won the secret ballot with 289 votes against 123 for his only competitor, People’s Party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu, whose party will once again lead the opposition.

The 80 abstentions likely came mainly from the fledgling opposition camp, since the number of votes Sophon received closely matched the total MP count in the Bhumjaithai-led coalition.

Klatham and the Democrats – with 58 and 21 MPs, respectively – are expected to join the People’s Party in opposition.

26th House speaker

Sophon, 66, officially became Thailand’s 26th House speaker after receiving royal endorsement the following day, and convened a House meeting on March 19 to elect the next prime minister.

Sunday’s meeting also saw two deputy House speakers elected uncontested.

Bhumjaithai’s Mallika Jirapunvanit, 61, a five-time MP for Lop Buri province, became first deputy. She served as deputy transport minister in the caretaker administration.

Lertsak Pattanachaikul, 54, a three-time Pheu Thai MP from Loei province, was elected as the second deputy speaker.

In his speech prior to the vote, Sophon expressed his desire for Parliament to introduce modern and effective laws to support the government in addressing national challenges. He said outdated laws should either be improved or repealed to ensure Thailand’s legal framework remains relevant and practical.

“I promise to work with fairness for the country, the religion, the monarchy, and the people, while upholding the democratic system with the King as head of state,” he said.

Sophon has been elected seven consecutive times in his home province, Buri Ram, which is also Bhumjaithai’s stronghold.

He has close ties with Bhumjaithai founder and fellow Buri Ram native Newin Chidchob, who retains his influence over the ruling party despite holding no executive positions. Newin is often referred to as Bhumjaithai’s “headmaster”.

Sophon becomes Bhumjaithai’s second House speaker, after Newin’s late father, Chai, who served in the post from 2008 to 2011.

Teaching for two decades

Born in Buri Ram on March 31, 1959, Sophon earned a bachelor's degree in education from Buriram Teachers College, now known as Buriram Rajabhat University.

After graduating, he began his career as a teacher in the rural district of Lam Plai Mat, where he was born. Over nearly 20 years in education, he forged strong bonds with the local communities, offering guidance and support on a wide range of issues.

Sophon made his political debut in 2001 after winning his first seat in Parliament under the Chart Thai Party banner.

He later switched to Thai Rak Thai (TRT), led by Thaksin Shinawatra. Buri Ram constituents re-elected him in 2005 as TRT scored a sweeping majority of 377 MPs to secure Thaksin’s second term as prime minister.

After Thaksin’s administration was ousted in 2006 by a military coup and the party was dissolved a year later for electoral fraud, Sophon shifted to the People Power Party (PPP), a proxy of Thaksin, along with other former TRT MPs. He served as deputy transport minister for barely two months in the short-lived government of Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin’s brother-in-law.

As the PPP faced disbandment in 2008, Sophon was among the defectors who broke away to join a new Democrat-led coalition, becoming its transport minister. At that time, he was a key member of the “Friends of Newin” faction, which would later transform into Bhumjaithai.

Sophon declared assets of 51 million baht on his return to Parliament in 2023. His financial report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission included 3.8 million baht in bank deposits, 1.5 million in investments, five land plots valued at 2.7 million, and six houses worth 7.2 million.

Sophon’s wife, Areeyaporn, mayor of Lam Plai Mat city in Buri Ram, declared assets of 20.5 million baht, including 1.6 million in the bank, 6.2 million in investments, 12 plots valued at 6.5 million, and 5.2 million worth of concessions.

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk