4 April 2018 FCCT Young Politicians

The flurry of excitement over the appearance of a new party, led by 39 year-old Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, has revealed an appetite in Thai society for something new in politics, as the country anticipates the restoration of democratic rule next year. K. Thanatorn, part of a wealthy family that owns the Thai Summit auto parts conglomerate, has promised an entirely fresh approach which will he says transcend the conflicts of the past decade. With around 40 new parties forming this year there is plenty of scope for younger aspiring politicians to find a place. But can new faces and thinking alone break the bad old habits of patronage, cronyism, and conservatism in Thai politics? Will the new parties be just a brief flash in the pan? The FCCT is delighted to host K. Thanatorn to outline how he will break the mould. We are also pleased to have K. Varavut Silpa-archa, son of the late Banharn Silpa-archa who personified old-style politics, but whose son insists he can offer something very different. We also invited Lieutenant Preechapol Pongpanit, the youngest MP to win a seat in the 2007 election who went on to represent Kohon Kaen for Pheu Thai until 2014. And Parit Wacharasindhu, who recently returned after education in the UK to offer to rejuvenate the Democrat Party, where his uncle Abhisit Vejjajiva is leader.