Chavarat Charnvirakul

Thai politician (born 1936)

Chavarat Charnvirakul
ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล
Chavarat in 2009
Acting Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
2 December 2008 – 17 December 2008
MonarchBhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded bySomchai Wongsawat
Succeeded byAbhisit Vejjajiva
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
24 September 2008 – 16 December 2008
Prime MinisterSomchai Wongsawat
Minister of the Interior
In office
20 December 2008 – 6 August 2011
Prime MinisterAbhisit Vejjajiva
Preceded byKowit Wattana
Succeeded byYongyuth Wichaidit
Ministry of Public Health
In office
2 August 2008 – 23 September 2008
Prime MinisterSamak Sundaravej
Preceded byChaiya Sasomsub
Succeeded byChalerm Yubamrung
Minister of Social Development and Human Security
In office
24 May 2008 – 2 August 2008
Prime MinisterSamak Sundaravej
Preceded bySutha Chansaeng
Succeeded byAnusorn Wongwan
Leader of the Bhumjai Thai Party
In office
14 February 2009 – 3 September 2012
Preceded byPipat Promvaraporn
Succeeded byAnutin Charnvirakul
Personal details
Born (1936-06-07) 7 June 1936 (age 87)
Bangkok, Siam (now Bangkok, Thailand)
Political partyBhumjai Thai (2009–14)
Other political
affiliations
People's Power (2007–08)
SpouseTassanee Chanweerakul
ChildrenAnutin Charnvirakul
Alma materThammasat University
Signature

Chavarat Charnvirakul (Thai: ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกูล, RTGSChawarat Chanwirakun, Thai pronunciation: [t͡ɕʰá.wá.rát t͡ɕʰaːn.wiː.rá.kun]; born 7 June 1936 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. He had served as an Acting Prime Minister of Thailand as a result of the 2008 Thai political crisis. His family is of Thai Chinese descent with ancestry from Guangdong.[1]

Education

Chaovarat graduated from Thammasat University in 1966 with a degree in economics.[2]

Political career

After spending many years in the public sector, he joined the government in 1994 as Deputy Minister of Finance, his tenure lasted till 1997. In 2008 he rejoined the government as Minister of Public Health and later Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.[2]

On 2 December 2008, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the People's Power Party and other coalition parties, at the same time banning their chief executives. The incumbent Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was then removed along with several other members of the Cabinet. Chaovarat, however, was the only senior Cabinet figure who was not a party executive and was therefore the only viable candidate. Either the House of Representatives of Thailand had to confirm him as the new Prime Minister, or the new political grouping must vote for a new leader and submit his name for approval.[3] There has been some questions - even a letter submitted to the Constitutional Court by Senators - concerning the legality of his temporary appointment as Prime Minister (even in a caretaker capacity). This is because the 2007 Constitution of Thailand states that the Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives; Chaovarat was not an MP.[4] Chaovarat was replaced by Abhisit Vejjajiva on 15 December 2008. He was appointed Minister of Interior of Thailand in the Abhisit cabinet, a post which he held until the government's electoral defeat in 2011. On 14 February 2009, Chaovarat became the leader of the Bhumjai Thai Party until 4 September 2012, in which he was succeeded by his son, Anutin Charnvirakul.

Royal decorations

References

  1. ^ How Thailand’s Deputy PM Could Score the Top Job—and Redefine the Country’s Politics
  2. ^ a b "Royal Thai Government". The Nation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  3. ^ Somroutai Sapsomboon (3 December 2008). "Questions arise as dissolutions put electoral system in a vacuum". The Nation. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Senate to forward complaint about caretaker PM's qualification to court this week". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008.
  5. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ (ชั้นสายสะพาย จำนวน ๔,๒๓๘ ราย)
  6. ^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ (ชั้นต่ำกว่าสายสะพาย ชั้นสายสะพาย สมาชิกวุฒิสภา เนื่องในวโรกาสพระราชพิธีเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา วันที่ ๕ ธันวาคม ๒๕๓๗)
  7. ^ ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานพระบรมราชานุญาตให้ประดับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ต่างประเทศ
Offices and distinctions
Political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Trairong Suwankiri
Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand
1994–1995
with Amnuay Patise
Vacant
Title next held by
Praphat Phothasuthon
Newin Chidchob
Vacant
Title last held by
Sermsak Karun
Chaiwat Wiboonsawat
Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand
1996–1997
with Tawatwong na Chiang Mai
Chaturon Chaisang
Succeeded by
Chaturon Chaisang
Surasak Nananukul
Maruay Phadungsit
Vacant
Title last held by
Sutha Chansaeng
Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand
2008
Succeeded by
Anusorn Wongwan
Vacant
Title last held by
Chaiya Sasomsap
Minister of Public Health of Thailand
2008
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Somchai Wongsawat
Mingkwan Saengsuwan
Surapong Suebwonglee
Sahas Bunditkul
Sanan Kachornprasart
Kowit Wattana
Man Phatthanothai
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
2008
with Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Sompong Amornwiwat
Olarn Chaipravat
Sanan Kachornprasart
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Prime Minister Prime Minister of Thailand
Acting

2008
Succeeded byas Prime Minister
Preceded by Minister of Interior of Thailand
2008–2011
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Phiphat Phromwaraphon
Leader of Bhumjai Thai Party
2009–2012
Vacant
Bunjong Wongtrairat (Acting)
Title next held by
Anutin Charnvirakul
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