Chuan Leekpai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ชวน หลีกภัย | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Chuan in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20th Prime Minister of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 November 1997 – 9 February 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Thaksin Shinawatra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 23 September 1992 – 13 July 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Bhumibol Adulyadej | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Anand Panyarachun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Banharn Silpa-archa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speaker of the House of Representatives andPresident of the National Assembly of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 May 2019 – 20 March 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Vajiralongkorn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Prayut Chan-o-cha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Pornpetch Wichitcholchai (President of the National Legislative Assembly) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wan Muhamad Noor Matha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speaker of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the National Assembly of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 4 August 1986 – 29 April 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Prem Tinsulanonda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Uthai Pimchaichon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Panja Kesornthong | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 29 December 1988 – 26 August 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Chatichai Choonhavan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 11 March 2001 – 3 May 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Banyat Bantadtan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 4 August 1995 – 8 November 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Banharn Silpa-archa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of theDemocrat Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 January 1991 – 4 May 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Bhichai Rattakul | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Banyat Bantadtan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the House of Representatives for theDemocrat Party List | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 6 January 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the House of Representatives for Trang 1st District | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 10 February 1969 – 9 November 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Korkieart Sudsen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Suwan Kusujarit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1938-07-28)28 July 1938 (age 86) Mueang Trang,Trang, Siam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Democrat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic partner | Phakdiporn Sucharitakul [th] (cohabitating wife) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Surabot Leekpai [th] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Thammasat University (LL.B.) The Thai Bar (Barrister) National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chuan LeekpaiMPChMVMThChW (Thai:ชวน หลีกภัย,RTGS: Chuan Likphai,pronounced[tɕʰūanlìːk.pʰāj];Chinese:呂基文;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Lū Ki-bûn; born 28 July 1938) is a Thai politician who is the formerpresident of the National Assembly of Thailand as well as thespeaker of the Thai House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023.[1] Previously he twice served as the 20thPrime Minister of Thailand, from 20 September 1992 to 19 May 1995 and from 9 November 1997 to 9 February 2001.
As the leader of theDemocrat Party, Chuan was elected inSeptember 1992, becoming Thailand's first prime minister to come to power without either aristocratic or military backing. His first administration consisted of a five party coalition of the Democrat, New Aspiration, Palang Dhamma, Social Action, and Social Unity Parties until he was defeated in the1995 election, but assumed power in late-1997 following the fall of theChavalit Yongchaiyudh administration, which was held responsible forthe economic crisis that beset Thailand that year. Although criticised as a slow actor and allowing numerous corruption scandals, Chuan managed to meet factional demands and extend Thailand's social security system.[2]
Chuan was born to ethnic Chinese parents on 28 July 1938 inMueang Thap Thiang,Trang province, Thailand, to a teacher, Niyom Leekpai[3] and Tuan Leekpai, Chuan has nine siblings and is the third child in the family. He would later move to the temple school at Wat Amarintraram inBangkok where he lived for six years. He went on to study law atThammasat University,Bangkok and later became a barrister-at-laws of the Thai Bar Association. Chuan is ethnicHokkien, coming from a third-generationThai Chinese.[4][5][6]
In the aftermath ofBloody May, the Democrat Party won a plurality of seats in theSeptember 1992 elections, with 79 seats, compared to the Chart Thai Party with 77 seats. Chuan formed a coalition government with theNew Aspiration Party and Ekkaparb parties. The Phalang Dharma Party joined his cabinet after theNew Aspiration Party left in 1994.[7]
Key policies of Chuan's first administration included:
The first Chuan administration fell when members of the cabinet were implicated in profiting from Sor Phor Kor 4-01 land project documents distributed inPhuket Province. Fierce public and press criticism and dissolution of parliament were the reasons for his administration's downfall.[10]
Chuan became prime minister for the second time on 9 November 1997, replacingChavalit Yongchaiyudh, with a shaky line-up of a six party coalition and 12 independent defectors from a seventh party,Prachakorn Thai. The ruling coalition increased its 20-seat majority in October 1998, by including theChart Pattana Party.
Chuan's second government enacted several economic reforms for which it was severely criticised. Chuan's "bitter medicine" policies brought little economic relief in the years following the1997 economic crisis, particularly at the grassroots level. Opinions emerged that the Democrats were only helping big financial institutions and making the country more dependent of foreign investors. Nevertheless, many of the reforms recommended by theIMF were in line with the policies of market economies such as Australia and New Zealand. The subsequent government's economic growth was based even more strongly on selling national assets and private organisations abroad such as the Shin Corporation, while most of its economic gains were built on the frugality of the Democrat policy platform.[citation needed] Thai Rak Thai painted the Democrats as having "open contempt" for the plight of the common Thai which set off a revenge vote against the party during the 2001 election, which gave a landslide victory toThaksin Shinawatra.[11]
During Chuan's second administration the National Education Act 1999 was enacted.[12]
Chuan's second government came under fire for the violent arrest of 223 villagers protesting thePak Mun Dam. Historian Nidhi Iawsriwong noted that "the present situation is as worse as that of the May event (the bloody crackdown of anti-government protesters in 1992). We have a tyrannical government that is arrogant and not accountable to the public. This is dangerous because the government still sees itself as legitimate and claims that it is democratic. In fact, it is as brutal as the military government".[13]
Controversy arose in early 1999 when it became known that Chuan nominatedThanom Kittikachorn to the post of honorary royal guard, provoking widespread criticism. The situation was resolved when Thanom resigned.[14][15] Thanom was one of the "three tyrants" who ruled Thailand from 1963 to 1973 and ordered the massacre of pro-democracy students on14 October 1973, after which he was ordered to step down and be exiled by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In April 2000, the editor in chief of the Chiang Mai daily newspaperPak Nua was shot and seriously wounded in an attempted murder, but recovered. The editor believed that his repeated critical reporting on the government led to the assault.[16]
Although generally regarded as relatively clean and honest when compared to other Thai administrations, Chuan's government found itself plagued with corruption scandals and rumours. Key cases of corruption included:
Chuan stepped down as the Leader of Democrat Party in 2003.[20]
Chuan Leekpai has one son,Surabot Leekpai [th], with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul, hiscommon-law wife. His mother tongue isSouthern Thai,[21] but his proficiency inCentral Thai is native level. He is able to speakEnglish well.[22]
Thailand:_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most ExaltedOrder of the White Elephant_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most NobleOrder of the Crown of Thailand_ribbon.svg)
Knight Grand Commander (Second Class, higher grade) of the Most IllustriousOrder of Chula Chom Klao
Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati_ribbon.svg)
Recipient of theKing Rama IX Coronation Medal_ribbon.svg)
25th Buddhist Century Celebration Medal_ribbon.svg)
Serving Free Peoples Medal.svg)
First Class (Gold Medal) of theRed Cross Medal of Appreciation
Philippines:
Grand Collar (Raja) of theOrder of Sikatuna (1993)
Peru:
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Sun (1999)
Portugal:
Grand Cross of theOrder of Christ (1999)[23]
Nicaragua:
Grand Cross of theOrder of Rubén Dario (2000)[24]
Romania:
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Star of Romania (2000)[25]
Denmark
Grand Cross of theOrder of the Dannebrog (2001)[26]| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1992–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Thailand 1997–2001 | Succeeded by |
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