Thammathipat party

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The Thammathipat party ( Thai พรรค ธร ร มา ธิ ปั ต ย์ , RTGS : Phak Thammathipat , translated: " Dharma -kratie", "Rule of Dharma" or "Law is power"; self-chosen English name: Conservative Party ) was a political one Party in thailand . It was founded in 1947 by supporters of the disempowered Prime Minister and Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram (Phibun), including Wichit Wichitwathakan , General Mangkon Phromyothi and Prayun Phamonmontri . General Mangkon was its chairman.

Founded in 1947

Phibun, who had allied Thailand with Japan during World War II, had to resign in 1944 when Japan's defeat became apparent and was charged as a war criminal after the end of the war. Although he was acquitted in April 1946 because the retroactive application of the War Crimes Act would have been illegal, he promised to withdraw from politics. In contrast, he announced his return to the political stage in March 1947. The country was in an economic crisis at the time and politically divided after the enigmatic death of the young king Ananda Mahidol in June 1946. Phibun wanted to rehabilitate itself from allegations of treason and war crimes and agreed to save Thailand from "impending catastrophe". The move was celebrated by military circles who still viewed Phibun as a hero. The ruling left-wing liberals around Pridi Phanomyong and the incumbent Prime Minister Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (Thamrong) protested against it.

Military members close to Phibun carried out a coup d' état against the government in November 1947 . However, they then had to share power with the royalist Democratic Party , which had approved the coup. After 15 years in political sideline, the royalists tried to break the supremacy of the constitutionalists and to dominate the government again. The Thammathipat party therefore turned in January 1948 to the supporters of Pridi and Thamrong, who had just been disempowered, with whom Phibun had a common past in the “ People's Party ” and in the “ Siamese Revolution ” in 1932, for an alliance against the royalists and their head of government Form Khuang Aphaiwong .

Participation in government 1948–51

Under pressure from the coup group, Khuang resigned in April and Phibun became prime minister again. However, he relied on several parties in parliament and did not give the Thammathipat party a prominent position. In order to gain international recognition from the United States and Great Britain , he even distanced himself from her. In his cabinet, his former confidants Wichit and Prayun, who were considered "villains" by the USA, surprisingly received no posts. Only General Mangkon was given the comparatively insignificant education department. After new elections in June 1949, the Thammathipat party had 12 of the 121 seats in parliament. Phibun granted her five of the 24 cabinet posts. General Mangkon became Minister of the Interior again and Phibun preferred the Thammathipat among the ruling parties. However, it suffered from splitting offs from MPs who continued to support Phibun, but hoped for more influence and government posts.

After the “radio coup” in 1951 and the reinstatement of a constitution that banned parties and weakened parliament, the government consisted of more active military and fewer professional politicians. Four former Thammathipat members were still members of the government. It was not until 1955 that Phibun took steps towards democratization again, allowed parties again and set elections for February 1957. In the meantime he founded the new Seri Manangkhasila party . The Thammathipat party was re-established and continued to support Phibun, but only won 10 of the 160 seats. It no longer played a significant political role. In 1957, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat launched a coup against Phibun and in 1958 again banned all parties.

1970s revival

After the democratic uprising in 1973 and the revival of multi-party democracy, another party was founded under the name Thammathipat. She represented the extreme right in the Thai political spectrum and was close to the extremely anti-communist Nawaphon movement. In elections, however, it could not record any significant successes. In the 1976 parliamentary elections, it nominated 110 candidates, but only won one seat.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. The Politics of Despotic Paternalism. Cornell Southeast Asia Program, Ithaca NY 2007, ISBN 978-0-8772-7742-2 , p. 45.
  2. ^ Daniel Fineman: A Special Relationship. The United States and Military Government in Thailand, 1947–1958. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu 1997, ISBN 0-8248-1818-0 , p. 21.
  3. ^ Fineman: A Special Relationship. 1997, p. 51.
  4. ^ Fineman: A Special Relationship. 1997, pp. 59-60.
  5. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 46.
  6. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, pp. 47-48.
  7. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, pp. 52-53.
  8. ↑ Thak Chaloemtiarana: Thailand. 2007, p. 72.
  9. ↑ Somporn Sangchai: Some Observations on the Elections and Coalition Formation in Thailand, 1976. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore 1976, p. 4
  10. ↑ Somporn Sangchai: Some Observations on the Elections and Coalition Formation in Thailand, 1976. 1976, p. 21