View source for Thai Rak Thai Party

{{Short description|Thai political party (1998–2007)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox political party
| logo             = [[File:Thai rak thai logo.gif|150px]]
| abbreviation     = TRT
| founder          = [[Thaksin Shinawatra]]
| spokesperson     = [[Sita Tiwaree]]
| foundation       = 14 July 1998
| banned           = 30 May 2007
| successor        = [[People's Power Party (Thailand)|People's Power Party]] (''de facto'')
| headquarters     = 
| newspaper        = 
| youth_wing       = 
| membership_year  = 
| membership       = 
| ideology         = [[Neo-nationalism]]<ref name="Atchara">{{Cite web|url=https://tdc.thailis.or.th/tdc/browse.php?option=show&browse_type=title&titleid=193753|title=มายาคติและอุดมการณ์ในโฆษณาหาเสียงเลือกตั้งของพรรคไทยรักไทยในการเลือกตั้งทั่วไปวันที่ 6 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2548 : การวิเคราะห์ด้วยวิธีสัญวิทยา |trans-title=Myths and ideology in Thai Rak Thai Party's February 6, 2005 general election advertisements: a semiotic analysis |author=Atchara Pantranuwong |publisher=Thammasat University |year=2008}}
</ref><br/>[[Populism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292411119|title=Populism in Asia: The case of Thaksin in Thailand|first1=Grigoris|last1=Markou|first2=Phanuwat|last2=Lasote|date=June 26, 2015|via=ResearchGate}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thailand-business-news.com/politics/31401-thailands-populism-has-come-close-to-its-limit.html|title=Thailand's populism has come close to its limit|first=East Asia|last=Forum|date=September 12, 2011|website=Thailand Business News}}</ref><br />[[Reformism]]<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Party Fabrication: Constitutional Reform and the Rise of Thai Rak Thai|first=Allen|last=Hicken|date=December 12, 2006|journal=Journal of East Asian Studies|volume=6|issue=3|pages=381–407|doi=10.1017/S159824080000463X|s2cid=9030903}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27806894|title=Democracy in Thailand under Thai Rak Thai government|first=Dermot|last=Monaghan|date=November 12, 2019|via=ResearchGate}}</ref><br />[[Neoliberalism]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Phongpaichit |first1=Pasuk |last2=Baker |first2=Chris |title=Thaksin |date=2009 |publisher=Silkworm Books |pages=115–123 |edition=Second}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jayasuriya |first1=Kanishka |last2=Hewison |first2=Kevin |title=The Antipolitics of Good Governance From Global Social Policy to a Global Populism? |journal=Critical Asian Studies |date=2004 |volume=36 |issue=4 |page=575 |doi=10.1080/1467271042000273257 |s2cid=67761095 |url=https://kevinhewison.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/jayasuriya_hewison-2004.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ockey |first1=James |title=Change and Continuity in the Thai Political Party System |journal=Asian Survey |date=July–August 2003 |volume=43 |issue=4 |page=673 |doi=10.1525/as.2003.43.4.663 |jstor=10.1525/as.2003.43.4.663 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2003.43.4.663 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><br />[[Third Way]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hawkins |first1=Kirk |last2=Selway |first2=Joel |date=17 July 2017 |title=Thaksin the Populist? |journal=Chinese Political Science Review |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=372–394 |doi=10.1007/s41111-017-0073-z |s2cid=256469505 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGirk |first=Jan |date=7 February 2005 |title=Thaksin Shinawatra: The man who turned disaster into victory |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/thaksin-shinawatra-the-man-who-turned-disaster-into-victory-531510.html |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media Ltd |quote=}}</ref>
| position         = [[Centre-right]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hassarungsee |first1=Ranee |last2=Tulaphan |first2=Poonsap S. |last3=Kardkarnklai |first3=Yuwadee |title=Unsound government policies, successful grassroots solutions |url=https://www.socialwatch.org/node/11006 |website=Social Watch |access-date=July 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chaloemtiarana |first1=Thak |title=Distinctions with a Difference: The Despotic Paternalism of Sarit Thanarat and the Demagogic Authoritarianism of Thaksin Shinawatra |journal=Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies |date=2007 |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=82–83 |jstor=40860869 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40860869 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hawkins |first1=Kirk |last2=Selway |first2=Joel |title=Thaksin the Populist? |journal=Chinese Political Science Review |date=2017 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=387–390 |doi=10.1007/s41111-017-0073-z |s2cid=157347536 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
| colors           = [[Red]], [[Blue|Dark blue]]
| website          = 
| footnotes        = 
| colorcode        = {{party color|Thai Rak Thai Party}}
| leader           = [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] (1998-2006)<br>[[Chaturon Chaisang]] (2006-2007)
| country          = Thailand
| native_name      = พรรคไทยรักไทย<br>Thais Love Thais Party
| name             = Thai Rak Thai Party
}}

The '''Thai Rak Thai Party''' ('''TRT'''; {{langx|th|พรรคไทยรักไทย}}, {{RTGS|''Phak Thai Rak Thai''}}, {{IPA|th|pʰák tʰaj rák tʰaj|IPA}}; "Thais Love Thais Party") was a [[list of political parties in Thailand|Thai political party]] founded in 1998. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under its founder, [[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Minister]] [[Thaksin Shinawatra]]. During its brief existence, Thai Rak Thai won the three general elections it contested. Eight months after a [[2006 Thailand coup|military coup]] forced Thaksin to remain in exile, the party was dissolved on 30 May 2007 by the Constitutional Tribunal for violation of electoral laws, with 111 former party members banned from participating in politics for five years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/30/headlines/headlines_30035646.php|title=The Constitutional Tribunal disbands Thai Rak Thai|date=2007-05-30|work=[[The Nation (Thailand)]]|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171034/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/30/headlines/headlines_30035646.php|archive-date=March 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Party platform and electoral outcomes==
Thai Rak Thai was registered on 15 July 1998, by telecommunications entrepreneur [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] and 22 other founding members, including [[Somkid Jatusripitak]], [[Thanong Bidaya]], [[Sudarat Keyuraphan]], Purachai Piumsombun, [[Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya]], and [[Prommin Lertsuridej]].

The Thai Rak Thai party had a [[populism|populist]] platform, appealing to indebted farmers, who had become indebted as a result of the [[1997 Asian financial crisis]], with promises of a strong economic recovery.{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}} The party also reached out to rural villages, and struggling businesses. Thai Rak Thai's policies included a 30 baht per hospital visit scheme, an extended debt moratorium for farmers, one million baht [[microcredit]] development funds for all rural districts, and the [[One Tambon One Product]] project.

Thai Rak Thai won the [[2001 Thailand legislative election|legislative election of 2001]] by a landslide over the ruling [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrat Party]] led by Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai. Forty percent of elected MPs were freshmen. Thai Rak Thai was able to negotiate a merger with the [[New Aspiration Party]] and a coalition with the [[Thai Nation Party]], resulting in a majority of 325 of 500 seats for the coalition government of Thaksin Shinawatra.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/09/news/09iht-thai.t.html|title=Markets and Currency Rise on Strong Showing by New Party: Election Results Lift Thai Spirits|last=Crampton|first=Thomas|date=2001-01-09|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-05-21}}</ref>

The Thai Rak Thai Party was the first political party in Thailand to have been represented by more than half of the members of the [[House of Representatives of Thailand|House of Representatives]]. In the [[2005 Thai general election|2005 legislative election]], the party's candidates were elected to occupy 376 seats of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, defeating the largest opposition party, the [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrat Party]] which won 96 seats. After the election, Thailand's first single party government was successfully formed.

In the invalid elections of [[April 2006 Thailand legislative election|April 2006]], TRT won 61.6 percent of the vote and 460 out of 500 seats, many without any opposition, and the rest remaining vacant because the election was boycotted by opposition parties in the [[first-past-the-post]] electoral system.

==Factions==
As an amalgam of several different parties, Thai Rak Thai politicians owed their allegiance to different factions. Precise figures on faction membership do not exist, but estimates of the numerical strength of the major factions are provided below. These numbers are based on the membership of the House of Representatives elected in the [[2005 Thailand legislative election|2005 general election]], which was [[dissolution of parliament|dissolved]] on 24 February 2006.

*'''Wang Bua Ban''' – Led by Thaksin's sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat,<ref name="Parties">{{cite web|url=http://www.asiademocracy.org/content_view.php?section_id=1&content_id=437|title=There are some very upset members of the governing Thai Rak Thai party, and miffed politicians tend to cause problems|publisher=ARDA: Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716235936/http://www.asiademocracy.org/content_view.php?section_id=1&content_id=437|archive-date=2012-07-16|access-date=2006-10-03}}</ref> this faction is one of the party's most important groupings, as it included many members of prime minister's inner circle. The faction's base is Thaksin's home province of [[Chiang Mai]]. It was estimated that Wang Bua Ban commanded the support of over 30 MPs (as of December 2005), mostly from the [[Northern Thailand|northern]] region.<ref name="Parties" />
*'''Wang Nam Yom''' – Originally a splinter group from Wang Bua Ban,<ref name="Parties" /> Wang Nam Yom was led by then-Labour Minister Somsak Thepsutin and Industry Minister [[Suriya Jungrungreangkit]], who also served as Thai Rak Thai's Secretary-General. With the financial backing of Suriya, whose family controls the largest auto parts manufacturer in Thailand, some observers claimed that this faction had the resources to form a party in its own right.<ref name="Parties" /> The group is said to include over 100 MPs, hailing from the [[Northern Thailand|northern]], [[Isan|northeastern]], and [[Central Thailand|central]] regions of Thailand.<ref name="NationReplacing">{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/08/national/national_30001276.php|title=Replacing Thaksin|date=2006-04-08|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929133812/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/08/national/national_30001276.php|archive-date=September 29, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*'''Wang Nam Yen''' – This was the most notorious faction, led by the veteran political power-broker, [[Sanoh Thienthong]],<ref name="Parties" /> a former Interior Minister who held the title of Chief Advisor to the Thai Rak Thai Party. A native of [[Sa Kaeo Province]], Sanoh in the 1990s built a political empire that came to dominate several border provinces in [[Eastern Thailand|eastern]] and [[Isan|northeastern]] Thailand. Rather than start a political party of his own, however, Sanoh preferred to play the role of kingmaker by shifting his group from party to party.<ref name="Parties" /> With the collapse in 1992 of the pro-military government, which Sanoh supported, the faction moved to the [[Chart Thai Party]], which went on to win the elections held in 1995. Amid squabbles with Chart Thai leader [[Banharn Silpa-archa]], Sanoh then defected to the [[New Aspiration Party]], which won the 1996 elections. However, with New Aspiration's star waning after it was forced out of power in 1997, Sanoh decided to cast his lot with Thai Rak Thai before the [[2001 Thailand legislative election|2001 elections]]. Since joining Thai Rak Thai, however, Wang Nam Yen has largely been sidelined by Thaksin amid occasional squabbles with Sanoh. As a result, Sanoh has become one of Thaksin's most vocal critics in the Thai Rak Thai Party. Wang Nam Yen's electoral fortunes have also declined slightly since joining Thai Rak Thai at the expense of other factions, and as of February 2006, Sanoh commanded the loyalty of only 37 MPs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1094478.php/Thai_ministers_resignation_undermines_embattled_prime_minister|title=Thai minister's resignation undermines embattled prime minister|date=2006-02-03|work=Monsters and Critics|agency=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507075101/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/article_1094478.php/Thai_ministers_resignation_undermines_embattled_prime_minister|archive-date=2007-05-07}}</ref> He and his wife resigned from the TRT in February 2006 to establish the [[Royalist People's Party]].
*'''Wang Phayanak''' – This group was led by Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat,<ref name="Parties" /> who was leader of the small Seritham Party before it merged with Thai Rak Thai after the [[2001 Thai general election|2001 election]]. Most of the faction's following of approximately 30 MPs (as of December 2005) hail from the [[Isan|northeastern region]], where the group often competes with Wang Nam Yen for influence.
*'''Wang Lam Takong''' – This faction was composed of the remnants of the old [[National Development Party (Thailand)|Chart Pattana]] (National Development) Party, which merged into Thai Rak Thai before the [[2005 Thailand legislative election|2005 elections]]. Chart Pattana's former leader, Deputy Prime Minister [[Suwat Liptapanlop]], served as head of this group. The faction's influence derives from its strength in the country's second-most populous province, [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima]], which was the stronghold of Chart Pattana. Wang Lam Katong's membership is estimated to include as many as 20 MPs.
*'''Bangkok Faction''' – The leader of this group was [[Sudarat Keyuraphan]] and [[Chalerm Yubamrung]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hilight.kapook.com/view/92735|title=เฉลิม อยู่บำรุง ประวัติ บุรุษผู้สร้างสีสันแก่การเมืองไทยกว่า 30 ปี|date=October 25, 2013|website=kapook.com}}</ref>
*'''Chonburi Faction''' – Former Sports and Tourism Minister [[Sontaya Kunplome]] led this faction,<ref name="Parties" /> which split from the [[Chart Thai Party]] before the [[2005 Thailand legislative election|2005 elections]] to join Thai Rak Thai. Sontaya's father is the infamous [[Somchai Khunpluem]], the "godfather" of [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]] who is better known as "[[Kamnan]] Po." The dominant political force in the [[Eastern Thailand|eastern]] provinces of [[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]] and [[Rayong Province|Rayong]], this faction counts approximately seven MPs under its wing.<ref name="NationReplacing" />
*'''Buriram Faction''' – Like the Chonburi Faction, this group also defected from the [[Chart Thai Party]] before the [[2005 Thailand legislative election|2005 elections]]. The faction's leader is Prime Minister's Office Minister [[Newin Chidchob]],<ref name="Parties" /> probably one of the most popular members of Thai Rak Thai and at the time was considered to be one of Thaksin's right hand men. It had a solid base in Newin's home province of [[Buriram Province|Buriram]] and in neighboring [[Surin Province]].
*'''Ban Rim Nam''' – This group was led by Deputy House Speaker [[Suchart Tancharoen]],<ref name="Parties" /> a key figure in the former [[New Aspiration Party]], which merged with Thai Rak Thai after the [[2001 Thailand legislative election|2001 elections]]. The faction has around 15 members.<ref name="NationReplacing" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/07/headlines/headlines_30001187.php|title=Somkid takes an early lead in race to become prime minister|date=2006-04-07|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214239/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/07/headlines/headlines_30001187.php|archive-date=March 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*'''Maleenont Faction''' – Led by Sports and Tourism Minister (as of February 2006) [[Pracha Maleenont]], whose family controls the local broadcasting and entertainment group [[BEC World]]. This group's influence derives from the [[Maleenont family]]'s role as one of the leading financiers of the Thai Rak Thai Party.
*'''Pongsak Faction''' – Under the leadership of Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpisak, this group has emerged recently as a significant force within the party, counting approximately 30 MPs as supporters as of December 2005. Pongsak's alleged close friendship with [[Potjaman Shinawatra|Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra]], the wife of Prime Minister Thaksin, is said to allow him to wield considerable influence over party and government affairs.

==After the September 2006 coup==
{{See also|2006 Thai coup d'état}}

===Whereabouts of party leaders after the coup===
On the evening of 19 September 2006, the Thai military seized control of Bangkok to take over the government. [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] was in New York City attending a meeting of the [[United Nations General Assembly]]. Most of the TRT executive leadership were also abroad: Deputy Premier [[Surakiart Sathirathai]] was with Thaksin in New York, Finance Minister [[Thanong Bidaya]] was in Singapore attending the annual meeting of the [[World Bank]]/[[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], Commerce Minister [[Somkid Jatusripitak]] was attending the Thai-France Cultural Exhibition in Paris with Foreign Minister [[Kantathi Suphamongkhon]] and HRH Princess [[Maha Chakri Sirindhorn|Sirindhorn]].

Several party executives remaining in Thailand were arrested and detained by the junta. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of national security [[Chitchai Wannasathit]] and Defence Minister [[Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya]] were in Thailand and were immediately arrested and detained by the junta. Secretary-General to the Premier [[Prommin Lertsuridej]] was also arrested. Natural Resources and Environmental Minister Yongyuth Tiyapairat and Deputy Agriculture Minister [[Newin Chidchop]] were ordered to report to the junta by 21 September. Both reported as ordered and were detained.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/homeUrgent-Newin-reports-to-ARC-30014242.html|title=Urgent: Newin reports to ARC|date=2006-09-21|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624114433/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/homeUrgent-Newin-reports-to-ARC-30014242.html|archive-date=June 24, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30014244|title=Urgent: Yongyuth reports to ARC|date=2006-09-21|work=The Nation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095513/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30014244|archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref><ref name="CNA">{{cite news |title=Four officials close to ousted Thai PM now detained |work=Channel News Asia |date=22 September 2006 |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/231858/1/.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001045520/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/231858/1/.html |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Several party executives including [[Chaturon Chaisang]], Phumtham Wechayachai, Suranand Vejjajiva, [[Veera Musikapong]], Party Deputy and Industry Minister [[Suriya Jungrungreangkit]] and former Social Development and Human Security Minister Watana Muangsook were reported to be in Thailand and free.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-ministers in custody |work=Bangkok Post |date=September 22, 2006 |url=http://bangkokpost.net/News/22Sep2006_news01.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129080546/http://bangkokpost.net/News/22Sep2006_news01.php |archive-date=January 29, 2016 }}</ref>

===Reactions from party members===
With Thaksin and key party executives either abroad or arrested, the reaction of TRT party members was muted and disorganized. In Thaksin's absence, [[Chaturon Chaisang]] became the acting party leader.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/19/politics/politics_30016563.php|title=People were disappointed in us|date=2006-10-19|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220327/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/19/politics/politics_30016563.php|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Several former MPs believed the party would be dissolved by the junta, including former Khon Kaen MP Prajak Kaewklaharn. However, former Udon Thani MP Thirachai Saenkaew, called for the junta to allow Thaksin to contest the next election, claiming that TRT supporters wanted Thaksin to return to politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thaksin-should-be-allowed-to-contest-election-Thai-30015063.html|title=Thaksin should be allowed to contest election: Thai Rak Thai member|date=2006-09-30|work=The Nation |access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624124733/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thaksin-should-be-allowed-to-contest-election-Thai-30015063.html|archive-date=June 24, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Former Sakon Nakhon MP Chalermchai Ulankul said that although he and others might be unemployed for about a year, his faction was "firm" and preparing to run in the election next year. "As long as the Thai Rak Thai Party is not dissolved, we can't say we will move to be under any other party. However, I don't know who will continue the TRT."

Many party members were reported to have dropped their party membership in the aftermath of the coup. These included Somsak Thepsuthin and 100 members of the Wang Nam Yom faction. It was not clear whether [[Suriya Jungrungreangkit]], another influential member of the faction would also resign. Sonthaya Kunplome also was reported to have led 20 members of the Chonburi faction in resigning from the party. Fear that the party would be dissolved by the junta and its members banned from politics fueled the defections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Sonthaya-leads-20-members-out-of-Thai-Rak-Thai-30015188.html|title=Sonthaya leads 20 members out of Thai Rak Thai|date=2006-10-02|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624114438/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Sonthaya-leads-20-members-out-of-Thai-Rak-Thai-30015188.html|archive-date=June 24, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30015187|title=Somsak leads 100 members to resign from Thai Rak Thai|date=2006-10-02|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528033455/http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30015187|archive-date=May 28, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On 2 October 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra and his former deputy, Somkid Jatusripitak, resigned from the Thai Rak Thai Party,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/03/headlines/headlines_30015263.php|title=Thaksin resigns from Thai Rak Thai|date=2006-10-02|work=The Nation|access-date=2016-05-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183911/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/03/headlines/headlines_30015263.php|archive-date=March 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30015265|title=Somkid resigns from Thai Rak Thai Party|date=2006-10-02|work=The Nation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012233156/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30015265|archive-date=2006-10-12}}</ref> in all probability ending it as a political force.

==Party dissolution==
{{main|2006 Thai political party dissolution charges}}
The party's future was in doubt following the [[military coup]] that ousted Thaksin's government in September 2006. The party was [[Party dissolution charges in Thai politics, 2006|dissolved]] on 30 May 2007 by the order of the Constitutional Tribunal for violation of election laws.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-thaksin-idUKBKK23310420070530|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305155229/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-thaksin-idUKBKK23310420070530|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 5, 2016|title=Thai court orders Thaksin's party disbanded|date=2007-05-30|work=Reuters|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-05-21}}</ref> A few high-ranking party members were found to be directly involved in bribing several small parties into competing in constituencies that were bases of the former opposition parties to ensure that minimum turnout rules were met in favor of the TRT party and its partners. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and 110 members of the party were barred from participating in politics for a five-year period, with only eight of 119 charged acquitted. The remaining MPs and members of the party reorganized in the [[People's Power Party (Thailand)|People's Power Party]].

==General election results==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Election
! Total seats won
! Total votes
! Share of votes
! Outcome of election
! Election leader
|-
![[2001 Thai general election|2001]]
| {{Composition bar|248|500|hex={{party color|Thai Rak Thai}}}}
| 11,634,495
| 39.9%
| {{increase}}248 seats; '''Governing coalition''' {{small|(TRT-[[New Aspiration Party|NAP]]-[[Thai Nation Party|CTP]]-[[National Development Party (Thailand)|NDP]])}}
| rowspan=3|[[Thaksin Shinawatra]]
|-
![[2005 Thai general election|2005]]
| {{Composition bar|377|500|hex={{party color|Thai Rak Thai}}}}
| 18,993,073
| 60.5%
| {{increase}}127 seats; '''Governing party'''
|-
![[2006 Thai general election|2006]]
| {{Composition bar|460|500|hex={{party color|Thai Rak Thai}}}}
| 16,246,368
| 59.9%
| {{increase}}85 seats; '''nullified'''
|}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite journal |author=Allen Hicken |title=Party Fabrication: Constitutional Reform and the Rise of Thai Rak Thai |journal=Journal of East Asian Studies |number=6 |year=2006 |pages=381–407 |url=http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ahicken/index_files/fabrication.pdf}}
* {{Cite book |author1=Duncan McCargo |author-link1=Duncan McCargo |author2=Ukrist Pathamanand |title=The Thaksinization of Thailand |publisher=NIAS Press |place=Copenhagen |year=2005}}
* {{Cite journal |author=Somchai Phatharathananuntha |title=The Thai Rak Thai party and elections in North-eastern Thailand |journal=Journal of Contemporary Asia |volume=38 |number=1 |year=2008 |pages=106–123 |doi=10.1080/00472330701651986|s2cid=154259845 }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120716235936/http://www.asiademocracy.org/content_view.php?section_id=1&content_id=437 ARDA – TRT Factions]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060109055813/http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/thaimediaproject/050407b.shtml A look at Thaksin's cabinet – 2Bangkok.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060322144744/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/Bangkokians/dec23.php "Bangkokian: Pongsak Carves Out His Own Turf," ''The Nation'', 23 December 2005]

{{Thai political parties}}
{{Thaksin Shinawatra}}

[[Category:Thai Rak Thai Party| ]]
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Thailand]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1998]]
[[Category:Banned political parties in Thailand]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Thailand]]
[[Category:Political career of Thaksin Shinawatra]]
[[Category:Neoliberal parties]]