Thai Rak Thai

The Thai Rak Thai Party was founded by Thaksin Shinawatra in 1998. It had considerable success in elections and effectively held power from 2001 to 2006.

Following the 2006 coup, the party was dissolved and Thaksin fled abroad.

History

Thai Rak Thai was created on July 15th, 1998 by Thaksin Shinawatra.

In the January 6th, 2001 general election, the party won with 40% of the vote. (Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai's Democrat Party won only 25%.) Thaksin became prime minister on February 9th, 2001.

The party also won the February 6th, 2005 and April 2nd, 2006 general elections (with about 60% of the vote in each). However, the latter was in the context of a mass protest of the election. In many southern districts the non-abstaining vote was too low to certify results (as 20% turnout is required). Both King Rama IX and the Constitutional Court declared the election invalid. New elections were planned in October.

On September 19th, 2006, the royal army seized power in a coup. Thaksin remained outside the country (as he was attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York City at the time of the coup), but would eventaully be tried in absentia.

In Thaksin's absence, Chaturon Chaisang led the party in this interim period. On May 30th, 2007, the Thai Rak Thai Party was outlawed and leaders (including Chaturon) were barred from standing in elections for 5 years.

Policies

Leadership

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