Klatham rises as Thailand’s new ‘kingmaker’ – with Thamanat pulling the strings

The five-year-old Klatham Party has become increasingly attractive to serving and former MPs, attracting a string of lawmakers from both sides of the parliamentary divide.

Its appeal is so strong that at least 10 more MPs are set to join, party leader Prof Narumon Pinyosinwat declared recently – while dismissing allegations that Klatham was luring MPs with huge cash incentives.

New additions

Chonburi MP Krit Chevathamanon made headlines last month when she quit the opposition-leading People’s Party to join Klatham, the newest member of the government coalition.

Though yet to be announced officially as Klatham’s 27th MP, since the People’s Party has not yet expelled her, Krit spoke from Klatham’s bench to support the government’s 2026 budget bill in a recent House debate.

She now sits alongside Khon Kaen MP Ekarat Changlao, who joined Klatham in April after being expelled from the coalition’s second-largest party, Bhumjaithai.

Ekarat was rewarded by Narumon with the post of deputy party leader, in charge of activities in the Northeast.

Klatham lured two more lawmakers in mid-May – Bangkok MPs Anudith Nakornthap and Karoon Hosakul, both from the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party.

The two political veterans were long-time lieutenants of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, Thai Sang Thai’s founder and leader. Both had earlier left the Pheu Thai Party along with Sudarat, the ruling party’s former chief strategist.

Klatham struck again earlier this month, luring former labour minister Prasong Boonpong into its fold.

The political veteran has held multiple Cabinet posts, also serving as an adviser to three prime ministers – Chatichai Choonhavan, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, and Chuan Leekpai.

Party spokesman Akarasankiri Lohweera has hinted at more high-level arrivals, claiming that several “A-list” politicians were eager to become Klatham candidates at the next general election.

Political magnet

Klatham’s parliamentary presence has now grown to 26 MPs, with the latest seat earned with victory in April’s Nakhon Si Thammarat by-election.

While the party is officially led by non-MP Narumon, who also serves as the agriculture and cooperatives minister, controversial powerbroker Thamanat Prompow is widely regarded as Klatham’s de facto leader.

Thamanat currently holds the post of chief party adviser.

Narumon and Thamanat were considered close aides to Palang Pracharath leader General Prawit Wongsuwan.

In 2021, then-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha sacked Thamanat and Narumon from his Cabinet amid allegations of their involvement in a censure-debate plot to oust the PM.

Famously well-connected, Thamanat is widely seen as the driving force behind Klatham’s rise from a minor party to a rising power in the ruling coalition.

Observers credit him with forging the new “political magnet” of Thai politics.

Last December, he led a group of 20 MPs from Palang Pracharath to join Klatham, boosting its seats in Parliament from four to 24.

Thamanat and his faction had earlier been expelled from Palang Pracharath following a conflict with its leader Prawit.

Palang Pracharath was dropped from the Pheu Thai-led coalition after Paetongtarn Shinawatra replaced Srettha Thavisin as prime minister last September.

Thamanat, who served as agriculture minister under Srettha, lost his seat following the change of PM.

Analysts said his controversial past may have led to his removal, since Pheu Thai tightened scrutiny of ministerial nominations after Srettha was dismissed for appointing a former convict as PM’s Office minister.

Thamanat was sentenced to prison in Australia on a drugs charge in 1994.

The appointment of Narumon, an academic-turned-politician, to succeed Thamanat as agriculture minister came as a surprise given her party only had four MPs at the time – all of whom had resigned or been expelled from micro-parties.

However, analysts speculated that Klatham was to be the substitute party for Thamanat’s faction after their ejection from Palang Pracharath.

A Pheu Thai branch?

Klatham, formerly known as Thai Economic Party, was established in April 2020.

It is regarded as a close ally of Pheu Thai, even branded a “branch” of the ruling party – a label that Klatham rejects.

Thamanat played prominent roles for two decades in Pheu Thai and its two predecessors – Thai Rak Thai and People Power.

He launched his political career in 1999 with newly formed Thai Rak Thai, founded by tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin

Shinawatra.

Thamanat has retained close ties with former premier Thaksin, who is the current PM’s father and regarded as the patriarch of Pheu Thai.

Klatham is seen as Pheu Thai’s “secret weapon” in its ongoing power battle with its main coalition partner, Bhumjaithai.

If Klatham continues to attract defectors from other parties, Pheu Thai may be able to retain its majority in the lower House even if it loses Bhumjaithai from the ruling coalition.

Klatham is also viewed as the key to undermining Bhumjaithai’s growing popularity in the South, where the ruling party has never won a single MP seat.

For many analysts, Klatham’s victory over the incumbent Bhumjaithai and once-dominant Democrats in the recent Nakhon Si Thammarat by-election was a sign that its southern strategy is working.