Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan
นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล
Niwatthamrong at WTO Ministerial Conference in 2013
Acting Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
7 May 2014 – 22 May 2014
MonarchBhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded byYingluck Shinawatra
Succeeded byPrayut Chan-o-cha
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
30 June 2013 – 22 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Himself (acting)
Minister of Commerce
In office
30 June 2013 – 22 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Himself (acting)
Preceded byBoonsong Teriyapirom
Succeeded byChatchai Sarikalya
Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
In office
18 January 2012 – 30 June 2013
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Preceded byKritsana Seehalak
Surawith Konsomboon
Succeeded bySanti Promphat
Personal details
Born (1948-01-25) 25 January 1948 (age 76)
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyPeople's Power (2007–2008)
Pheu Thai (2008–present)
SpouseBoonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan
Children2
Alma mater

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Thai: นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล, RTGSNiwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, pronounced [ní.wát.tʰam.roŋ bun.soŋ.pʰaj.sǎːn] ; born 25 January 1948) is a Thai businessman and politician who served as the acting Prime Minister of Thailand following Yingluck Shinawatra's removal from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 7 May 2014 until his deposition in a coup d'état three weeks after taking office.[1] Before becoming acting premier, he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and before that managed the country's rice pledging scheme.[2][3]

Early and personal life

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Niwatthamrong was born on 25 January 1948. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from Srinakharinwirot University and a master's degree in computer science from Chulalongkorn University and is married to Boonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan.[1]

Business career

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A close business associate of Thaksin Shinawatra, Niwatthamrong served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee-Media and Advertising front of Shin Corporation since 1995 and as Vice-Chairman since 2000.[1] He served from 2001 to 2002 as Vice-Chairman of iTV and from 1993 to 1995, director of that company between 2002 and 2008, and a member of the board of directors between 2008 and 16 March 2010.[1]

Political career

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Niwatthamrong served as director of the controversial rice pledging scheme, where rice was bought at inflated prices from farmers and subsequently was left to rot due to lack of buyers.[3] On 30 June 2013 he was appointed Minister of Commerce and a deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Yingluck Shinawatra.[citation needed]

Acting Prime Minister

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On 7 May 2014, Niwatthamrong became acting Prime Minister following the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several members of her cabinet from office.[2] On 22 May 2014 he was himself removed from office following a military coup.

Royal decorations

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Niwatthamrong has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Executive Profile: Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Court removes Thai PM from office, deputy Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan appointed caretaker". The Daily Star. 7 May 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b Pramotmaneerat, Thammarat (1 July 2013). "Newly-appointed Commerce Minister not worried about rice pledging program". Thai Financial Post. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  4. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือกและเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันมีเกียรติยศยิ่งมงกุฎไทย ประจำปี ๒๕๕๖
  5. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือกและเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันมีเกียรติยศยิ่งมงกุฎไทย ประจำปี ๒๕๕๗
  6. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา,ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่สรรเสริญยิ่งดิเรกคุณาภรณ์ให้แก่บุคคลที่ช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบธรณีพิบัติภัย "สึนามิ" [สำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี