PROFILE: Thailand's People's Party PM candidate Natthaphong before parliament vote

Record ID: 2366673

  • Title: PROFILE: Thailand's People's Party PM candidate Natthaphong before parliament vote
  • Date: 2nd February 2026
  • Summary: Thailand’s disbanded opposition Move Forward party unveiled a new political vehicle on August 9, 2024, naming it the People’s Party, and said it would carry forward its predecessor’s progressive platform under the leadership of 37-year-old Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, a former cloud software executive who helped shape the digital campaign strategy that won Move Forward stron
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Future Forward Move Forward Party Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut People's Party Polls Thailand campaign election politics
  • Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • City: BANGKOK, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001989526012026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:The leader of the People’s Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, is set to be nominated as Thailand’s prime minister on Thursday (March 19).
    Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut emerged as the new face of Thailand’s progressive movement in August 2024 after the Constitutional Court dissolved the opposition Move Forward Party, prompting its lawmakers to regroup under a new banner, the People’s Party, with Natthaphong appointed as leader.
    Nicknamed “Teng”, Natthaphong was born on May 18, 1987, into a business family. Before entering politics, he graduated from Chulalongkorn University with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. He later joined the Future Forward Party and served as a member of parliament. Natthaphong played a key role in designing the digital campaign strategy that helped Move Forward mobilise strong support among young and urban voters.
    Natthaphong is among 44 former Move Forward lawmakers under investigation over their involvement in a bid to amend Article 112 of the criminal code, Thailand’s royal defamation law. The case is being reviewed by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and if it is referred to the Supreme Court and upheld, it could result in a political ban.
    His political trajectory mirrors that of two earlier leaders of the progressive movement: Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the dissolved Future Forward Party and Pita Limjaroenrat of Move Forward. Both were banned from politics for 10 years following Constitutional Court rulings that dissolved their parties.
    The People’s Party is the third incarnation of the progressive Future Forward movement, which was dissolved for a campaign finance violation in 2020, triggering nationwide anti-government protests.
    (Production: Artorn Pookasook, Napat Wesshasartar)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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