Palang Pracharath, UTN and the fall of military-backed parties

Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN), two parties that trace their origins to coup leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha, appear to be in terminal decline – the usual fate of political outfits created to preserve the influence of coup-makers.

Internal discord has left both parties badly divided as dark clouds gather over their future.

Palang Pracharath, now relegated to the opposition bench, suffered a severe blow when powerbroker Thamanat Prompow left with his 20-strong faction of MPs to join the fast-rising Kla Tham Party, the Pheu Thai-led coalition’s newest partner.

Their defection left Palang Pracharath with only 20 MPs.

United Thai Nation, for whom Prayut was PM candidate in the 2023 general election, is on the brink of disintegrating amid fierce infighting.

A group of 18 MPs led by deputy party leader Suchart Chomklin is battling an 18-MP strong faction led by party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga and secretary-general Akanat Promphan.

Looking back

Historically, Thailand has seen multiple political parties set up with the sole purpose of extending military influence following the return of elections.

Yet, most have succumbed to internal conflicts, declining popularity and eventual oblivion.

The pattern was set by Thailand’s first military-backed party, Seri Manangkhasila, formed in 1955.

First military party

Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkram, who was serving as prime minister at the time, took over leadership of the party, with then-Army chief, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, as his deputy.

The party’s secretary general was national police chief General Phao Sriyanond.

Seri Manangkhasila won the 1957 general election, which allowed Plaek to retain the power he had seized in the military coup of 1947.

However, the party’s victory sparked mass protests over allegations of vote-rigging and dirty tricks.

The allegations spawned infighting that opened the door for Sarit, Plaek’s trusted aide, to make his own power play and seal Seri Manangkhasila’s fate.

Ousted by right-hand man

As Plaek’s government grew increasingly unstable due to infighting among ruling party MPs over coveted ministries, Sarit orchestrated the formation of a new party, Sahaphum, in June 1957.

Several Seri Manangkhasila MPs defected, further weakening Plaek’s government and enabling Sarit to swoop in with a counter-coup.

Sarit’s Sahaphum Party won the December 1957 election but failed to secure a majority in the House.

The military strongman opted to dissolve the party and set up a new one, Chart Sangkhom, with MPs from Sahaphum and other parties.

Sarit served as party leader and installed his trusted lieutenants, Lt-General Thanom Kittikachorn and Lt-General Prapas Charusatien, as executives.

A new regime was formed with Thanom as prime minister, but it was again beset by infighting that quickly paralysed the government.

In October 1958, just 10 months into Thanom’s premiership, Sarit staged another coup and abolished the Political Parties Act – resulting in the dissolution of all parties.

Deposing his own government

Sarit became prime minister and held power until his death in 1963, when Field Marshal Thanom seized the reins.

Thanom oversaw the enactment of a fresh Political Parties Act in 1968.

In October 1968, the Saha Prachathai Party was registered with Thanom as leader, as the strongman eyed post-election power.

The party won the February 1969 general election, but the resulting Thanom-led coalition government was again undermined by competition for powerful Cabinet seats.

Thanom, who served as PM, defence minister and supreme commander of the armed forces, staged a coup against his own government in November 1971, annulling the Political Parties Act and all parties, including his own.

Branded ‘evil’

In January 1992, a new political party named Samakkhitham was set up as a vehicle for the generals who ousted Chatchai Choonhavan’s elected government to retain power.

The new party won the March 1992 election and nominated General Suchinda Kraprayoon, one of the coup leaders, as premier.

Massive protests broke out, fuelled by anger at Suchinda breaking his earlier promise not to accept the premier’s post.

Following the fatal “Black May” crackdown on protesters, Suchinda resigned in disgrace.

Branded an “evil party”, Samakkhitham was renamed Therd Thai in July 1992 – less than a year after its formation.

However, the new incarnation lasted barely a year before it was dissolved by the charter court for failing to contest the general election after Suchinda’s government collapsed.