New Aspiration Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thailand

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Thailand

King Bhumibol Adulyadej Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont 2005-2006 political crisis 2006 coup d'état Council for National Security Sonthi Boonyaratkalin Civilian interim government Cabinet of Thailand National Assembly Senate House of Representatives Political parties Elections April 2006 (invalidated) October 2006 (cancelled) next (2007 or 2008) Constitutions 1997 Constitution (abrogated) 2006 Interim Constitution Constitutional Court Provinces and districts Human rights South Thailand insurgency Foreign relations Foreign aid

Other countries • Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The New Aspiration Party (Phak Khwam Wang Mai) is a political party in Thailand. At the last legislative elections, 6 February 2005, the party won 0.4 % of the popular vote and no seats.

The party's earlier incarnation was established in the early 1990s by General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh after his retirement as Commander-In-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. This party won the elections of 1996 and formed a government with Chavalit as Prime Minister. The onset of the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 hit the government's popularity party hard, and New Aspiration was soon forced back into opposition. Discredited as a result of the economic crisis, Chavalit formed an alliance with the more popular Thai Rak Thai Party led by Thaksin Shinawatra to contest the 2001 elections. Shortly after the election, the New Aspiration Party merged with Thai Rak Thai and Chavalit become Deputy Prime Minister in Thaksin's new cabinet.

The current incarnation of the party was established to contest the 2005 elections, in which it won few votes. It has no connection to Chavalit's now-defunct party, which was a major player in Thai politics. In contrast, the current version of the New Aspiration Party is not considered a significant player on Thailand's political scene.