Friends of Newin Group

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The Friends of Newin Group (Thai: กลุ่มเพื่อนเนวิน) was a group of MPs in the House of Representatives of Thailand who - after the 2008 political crisis and Constitutional Court decision - decided to break away from the People's Power Party (PPP). The group was led by Newin Chidchob, former Thai Rak Thai cabinet minister. He was banned from the Thai government in 2006.^[1]

The parliamentary group was formed as a splinter group in 2007 after the 2007 election in which the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party under Samak Sundaravej won the majority of seats in the National Assembly. At one time, the group had 70 members.

Later, after the indictment of Samak, Somchai Wongsawat courted the group, and the group reciprocated by supporting and voting for Somchai for Prime Minister. Somchai had to resign as the Constitutional court dissolved the People's Power Party and two other coalition partners on the 2 December 2008. The non-partisan MPs were given 60 days to register to a new party or to join an existing one. The group opted for neither, and it had about 34 members at the time.

On 9 December 2008, the group's leader Newin Chidchob caused a breakthrough in Thai politics by announcing his support for Abhisit Vejjajiva, his former rival, as the next Prime Minister of Thailand. He assured Abhisit and Suthep Thuagsuban (General Secretary of the Democrat Party) that he and his group would vote for Abhisit for Prime Minister.^[2][3] The announcement cemented Abhisit's chances. On the night of the 13 December, Thaksin Shinawatra, Newin's former boss and benefactor, in a recorded message played at a National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (or UDD) rally, blasted the group as traitors and betrayers of the people.^[4][5] On the 15 December the House of Representatives voted 235 for Abhisit versus 198 votes for Pracha Promnok for Prime Minister. Friends of Newin contributed 33 votes for Abhisit.

Thereafter, the MPs of the Friends of Newin group has joined the Proud Thais Party. This move has effectively dissolved the Friends of Newin parliamentary group as Newin currently supports the Proud Thais Party.^[6] The Proud Thais Party currently has 5 Cabinet posts including the Interior Ministry.^[7]

[edit] Members

Currently the Proud Thais Party, where most of the former Friends of Newin MPs are now, has about 22 members in the House of Representatives:

1. Ransri Timatoka
2. Monchai Chatwattanasiri
3. Prasit Tangsrikiartikul
4. Snong Thepauksonarong
5. Sophon Saram
6. Panya Sripanya
7. Chakrin Pattanathamrongchit
8. Apirom Polwiset
9. Boonjong Wongthrairat
10. Supachai Phosu
11. Veera Rakkwamsuk
12. Thevarit Nikorndej
13. Chai Chidchob - Newin's father and President of the Parliament, Speaker of the House
14. Permpoon Thongsiri
15. Prutthichai Viriyaroj
16. Pattana Sangsthram
17. Chertchai Vicheinvan
18. Thweewat Ruthirachai
19. Suchart Chokchaivatthanakarn
20. Prachak Keawklahan
21. Chatuphorn Chareonchue
22. Vichien Udomsak

• Chaovarat Chanweerakul - former acting PM, not an MP

[edit] References