Pairote Lohsunthorn: Oldest MP to open new chapter in Thai politics

As its oldest elected member, 10-time MP Pairote Lohsunthorn will preside over the opening of Parliament later this month, taking the role for the first time after almost four decades in politics.

In a longstanding tradition, Pairote – who turned 90 in January – will oversee the House of Representative’s inaugural session to select a new speaker.

The countdown to a new parliament officially began on March 4, when the Election Commission officially certified the results of the February 8 poll. The new House of Representatives must convene within 15 days of the election’s certification.

‘Still healthy at 90’

Pairote, a Pheu Thai list MP, declared he was confident and ready to serve in the ceremonial role of interim speaker when he reported to Parliament with other newly elected MPs on March 6.

“Though I turned 90 this year, I’m in good health and fully capable of fulfilling my responsibilities,” he said, adding that the interim speaker’s role had been explained to him.

He will also oversee the oath-taking by new MPs. The 27th Lower House is due to convene between by March 19, when its main duty will be to elect a new speaker and two deputies.

The House speaker, who serves as the ex-officio Parliament president, will then convene a session to elect the new prime minister by late March or early April.

Pairote succeeds Viroj Pao-in, who opened Parliament after the 2023 election as the oldest MP at 89.

Viroj, a former deputy PM and Pheu Thai leader, died in October last year, aged 91.

Four decades in politics

Pairote was born on January 24, 1936, just four years after Thailand – then known as Siam – convened its first parliament following the transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University.

However, Pairote entered politics relatively late in life, making his parliamentary debut aged 52 after winning a seat in the northern province of Lampang in 1988. He was re-elected nine times, winning seats at the last two elections (2023 and 2026) under the Pheu Thai banner.

Pairote served as deputy interior minister twice in the 1990s – in Chuan Leekpai’s government (1994) and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh’s government (1996).

He was later appointed as deputy education minister during Chuan’s second administration, serving from October 1998 to November 2000.

After switching parties three times during his second decade in politics, Pairote joined Thaksin Shinawatra’s three-year-old Thai Rak Thai Party in 2001, just ahead of that year’s general election.

The move by Pairote and six other incumbent MPs to abandon Chart Pattana for Thaksin’s rising party angered their previous party leader, Korn Dabbaransi.

Thai Rak Thai, led by business tycoon turned politician Thaksin, managed to attract a string of MPs and senior figures from other parties, which contributed to its election victory in 2001.

Thai Rak Thai (TRT) won 248 of the 500 seats up for grabs, paving the way for Thaksin to become prime minister for the first time.

However, when TRT was dissolved by court order following the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin’s second government, Pairote was among the party’s executives who were hit with a five-year ban from politics.

When the ban expired, Pairote joined the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai. He returned to Parliament in 2019 aged 82, elected for the eighth time as a Lampang MP.