Bhumjaithai Party พรรคภูมิใจไทย | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | BJT |
| Leader | Anutin Charnvirakul |
| Secretary-General | Chaichanok Chidchob |
| Spokesperson |
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| Founder | Newin Chidchob |
| Founded | 5 November 2008; 17 years ago (2008-11-05) |
| Preceded by |
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| Headquarters | Chatuchak,Bangkok |
| Membership(2023) | 61,703[1] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right toright-wing[12] |
| Colours | Dark blue |
| Slogan | พูดเเล้วทำ ('Said and done') |
| House of Representatives | 193 / 500 |
| PAO Chief Executives (including party affiliates) | 21 / 76 |
| Website | |
| bhumjaithai | |
Bhumjaithai Party (BJT;Thai:พรรคภูมิใจไทย,lit. 'Thai Pride Party') is a majorconservativepopulistpolitical party in Thailand. It was founded on 5 November 2008, in anticipation of the 2 December 2008Constitutional Court ruling that dissolved itsde facto predecessor, theNeutral Democratic Party (PMT), along with thePeople's Power Party (PPP) and theThai Nation Party. After those dissolutions, former members of thePMT and theFriends of Newin (KPW) faction of the PPP switched to this party. It currently heads a minority government.
Bhumjaithai has apopulist platform, with some policies drawn fromThaksin Shinawatra's populistThai Rak Thai party and its second incarnation, the PPP.[13] The party has a strong base inBuriram Province.
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On 15 December 2008, the party endorsed theDemocrat Party, forming a six-party coalition government under Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva. The party's "de facto" leader and power broker behind joining the Democrat-led coalition isNewin Chidchob. Due to his role as an executive of the PPP predecessor party, theThai Rak Thai party which was dissolved in 2007, he became ineligible to be a party member for five years. It is alleged that army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, GeneralAnupong Paochinda, coerced the MPs of theFriends of Newin Group faction in the PPP to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition. This secured enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected prime minister. Bhumjaithai was the second largest coalition partner in theAbhisit government, supplying the ministers ofTransport,Commerce, andInterior (Chavarat Charnvirakul), and four deputy ministers.
For thegeneral election on 3 July 2011, Bhumjaithai forged an alliance with coalition partnerChartthaipattana Party.[14] The party aimed at winning as many as 111 seats in the new parliament.[15] During the campaign, a main BJT canvasser, Suban Chiraphanwanit, was shot dead.[16] Eventually, BJT won 34 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, which observers have interpreted as disappointing.[17] Subsequently, the party'sMatchima-faction, led bySomsak Thepsuthin, tried to join the Pheu-Thai-led coalition government of Prime Minister-designateYingluck Shinawatra, despite the party's ruling out cooperation with Pheu Thai before the elections. The Pheu Thai Party rejected the participation of BJT members.[18]
On 14 September 2012, Anuthin Charnvirakul was elected the new leader of the Bhumjaithai Party during the party's general assembly to elect a new 11-member executive committee. He replaced his fatherChavarat Charnvirakul, who had resigned. Also elected were Saksayam Chidchob as the new secretary-general, Nathee Ratchakijprakarn as treasurer, Sora-ath Klinprathum as an executive committee member and party advisory chairman, and Supamas Issarapakdi as party spokeswoman.[19]
On 18 June 2025 the Bhumjaithai Party announced its withdrawal from Thailand's ruling coalition government led by thePheu Thai Party. This decision followed the leak of a phone conversation between Prime MinisterPaetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime MinisterHun Sen, which raised concerns about national sovereignty amid ongoing border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.[20] In a statement by the Bhumjaithai party, all party ministers have submitted their resignations to theprime minister, effective 19 June.[21]
Bhumjaithai Party combines elements ofconservatism,populism, andeconomic liberalism in its policy platform. The party's approach to governance is characterised by welfare-oriented developmental policies while maintaining traditional conservative values, particularly regarding themonarchy.[5]
| Name | Portrait | Periods in Office | Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anutin Charnvirakul |  | 7 September 2025 – Incumbent | — (26th) |
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Outcome of election | Election leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 34 / 500 | 1,281,652 | 3.83% |  2 seats;Junior partner in opposition coalition | Chavarat Charnvirakul |
| 2014 | N/A | Invalidated | Invalidated | Unconstitutional – nullified | Anutin Charnvirakul |
| 2019 | 51 / 500 | 3,732,883 | 10.33% | 17 seats;Junior partner in governing coalition | |
| 2023 | 71 / 500 | 1,138,202 | 2.99% | 20 seats;Junior partner in governing coalition (until 2025) Opposition (2025) Minority governing coalition (after 2025) | |
| 2026 | 193 / 500 | 9,973,228 | 29.93% | 122 seats |
| Election | Total seats won | Total votes | Share of votes | Outcome of election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 / 50 | 19,789 | 0.85% | No members in Bangkok Metropolitan Council |
The Bhumjaithai has tended to ally with the military under the banner of protecting the monarchy.
