The leader of the Wealthy People’s Party is aiming for a majority in 2027 and promises technology-driven reforms of the welfare state and government. However, legal challenges are already looming that could block the new political force’s path.
Just 48 hours after the People’s Party was founded, there are legal threats to its existence and the future of its 143 MPs. In the meantime, the party is off to a good start in the upcoming local and by-elections. Moreover, a clearer picture of the 37-year-old People’s Party leader is emerging. First of all, he is a rich man with a fortune of over 400 million baht. Moreover, he has quickly built his position and is aiming for a one-party government in the 2027 general election. In addition, Mr Nattapong has outlined a vision of a technology-based administrative system that will increase efficiency while introducing a new welfare state.
Only 48 hours after its founding, the new people’s party is already defending itself against politically motivated legal challenges to its existence.
First of all, an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against 44 of its MPs in connection with the previous attempt to reform Article 112 is expected to result in the MPs in question losing their seats and being barred from politics.
One such MP in particular is Sirikanya Tansakul, whose bid to become party leader failed on Thursday evening. The former deputy leader of the Move Forward Party was an economic spokesperson and a strong parliamentary representative.
Royalist party questions legitimacy of new People’s Party. Warns that it may already be violating party law
On Sunday, Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom of the Royalist Thai Pakdee Party dropped another bombshell, detailing that he would challenge the new party’s legitimacy at the Election Commission.
In short, he claimed that the new organization, which is based on the Thinkhakhao Chaowilai Party, violates the party law. Specifically, he argued that the party must have at least four branches nationwide.
“For transparency reasons, the EC must inspect the party annually and inform people of the details of its branches,” Dr Warong explained. “If the Thinkhakhao Chaowilai Party has no branches in four regions for a year, it will lose its status by law. This means that the People’s Party cannot use the disqualified party.”
The New People’s Party is raising money. Chairman Nattapong is a wealthy person with over 400 million baht.
The new party has now raised over 20 million baht, and just a few hours after the launch was announced, no less than 10 million baht were in the coffers.
In addition, key figures such as former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat are in Ratchaburi to campaign for the upcoming local elections. At the same time, young businessman Natthanon Chanaboonsak has been nominated as a candidate for an upcoming by-election in Phitsanulok.
Founding of the People’s Party with “Teng” or Nattapong Ruangpanyawut as the new chairman, not Sirikanya Tansakul
Charges against student leaders threatened after mysterious “People’s Party” plaque disappears
The Constitutional Court orders the dissolution of the Move Forward party. Considered anti-monarchical
Meanwhile, more and more information is emerging about the new chairman of the People’s Party. First of all, 37-year-old Nattapong Ruangpanyawut is a very rich young man.
According to disclosures made to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in July 2023 after his retirement from the House of Representatives for Constituency 28 in Bangkok, Mr Nattapong and his wife Natthaporn Chan-in declared assets of 402.5 million baht.
The majority of this wealth certainly belongs to Mr Nattapong, whose wife has a net worth of 5.1 million baht.
Nattapong’s assets show that he owns extensive land and real estate and has debts totaling 10.1 million baht.
In total, the couple had more than 90,000 baht in cash. They declared common shares worth 82.5 million baht in various companies owned by Mr. Nattapong, namely the property companies Chananthorn Development Group Co., Ltd. and Ruangpanya Housing Co., Ltd.
In addition, there are land and property holdings in Bangkok’s Taling Chan district. These include four plots of land worth ฿108 million, four buildings worth ฿200 million, a two-story house worth ฿12 million and a building under construction worth ฿160 million.
The incumbent MP, who was first elected for Bangkok in 2019 and re-elected as a list MP in 2023, has debts of 10.1 million baht.
His annual income is about 2.8 million ฿, with expenses of 1.1 million ฿. In short, 600,000 ฿ of this is for daily expenses. The remaining amount is for mortgage and bank repayments.
New Prime Minister wants to modernize Thailand with the help of technology. People’s Party pushes for one-party government
Mr Nattapong is a former private entrepreneur in the IT sector and is excited about the prospect of modernising Thailand with the help of technology. He recently spoke to Prachachat business He estimated that in Bangkok the efficiency of many local authorities is only 15 percent.
As deputy secretary-general of the now-defunct Move Forward Party, Mr Nattapong, also known as “Teng,” revolutionized its fundraising and communications efforts as a member of the party’s fundraising committee and head of digital operations.
His party colleagues were certainly impressed by his ability to work in a team. This was cited as the reason why he was elected as the new chairman of the People’s Party on Friday.
He is undoubtedly seen as a progressive leader in the style of his predecessors, such as Mr Pita and especially Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
People’s Party aims for majority in 2027 election. Proposes digital portal for welfare state and reform
Over the weekend, Mr Nattapong said the People’s Party was aiming for a majority of seats in the House of Representatives in the 2027 election, after which it would form a one-party government to implement its vision for Thailand.
This would include a central digital portal that all citizens have access to. This would certainly be the beginning of a welfare state and a sign of making state institutions more efficient and leaner.
Significantly, the People’s Party announced over the weekend that its party might consider amending Article 112.
The 37-year-old said that the Constitutional Court’s decision last week did not prohibit this. Nevertheless, he warned that the party would carefully examine such questions in the future. In particular, he stressed that the court’s ruling would be fully respected.
Promise to amend the Computer Crime Act of 2007 and abolish the Anti-Fake News Center immediately
He also stressed that the People’s Party supports the monarchy, the highest institution in the country.
Meanwhile, he promised that if the People’s Party came to power, it would reform the controversial Computer Crime Act (2007). Mr Nattapong said that a law designed to protect the country’s digital infrastructure had been misused. Instead, it was being used for political and criminal purposes.
In addition, the party will immediately abolish the Anti-Fake News Center set up by the coalition government under General Prayuth Chan-o-cha.
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Further reading:
Founding of the People’s Party with “Teng” or Nattapong Ruangpanyawut as the new chairman, not Sirikanya Tansakul
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