Phalang Dharma Party
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The Phalang Dharma Party is a Thai political party founded by Chamlong Srimuang and supporters of the Santi Asoke sect of Buddhism in 1988. It was later led by business tycoon Boonchu Rojanastien and future Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The party was known for its stated opposition to corruption. It reached its peak of popularity in 1990, when it won 49 seats in Parliament. It was especially popular in Bangkok, where it won 49/55 seats in 1990 elections for the Bangkok City Council and 32/35 seats in 1992 Parliamentary elections. Factional in-fighting between the "Temple Faction" of Santi Asoke followers and the "Political Faction" of professional politicians and business people led to the party's collapse in 1996. Many party leaders later joined the Thai Rak Thai party of Thaksin Shinawatra. The Party went into hibernation and was active as of April 2006 with a completely different leadership.
[edit] References
- Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Biography of Chamlong Srimuang
