Introducing the profile of “Big Pom” – Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, the eldest of the “Three Ps,” leading the Palang Pracharath Party’s campaign in the 2026 election, unsurprisingly remaining the prime ministerial candidate.
On 16 December 2025, following the Palang Pracharath Party’s announcement of its prime ministerial candidates for the 2026 general election, the list includes Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, Ms. Trinuch Thienthong, and Mr. Teerachai Phuwanatnaranubala. The Election Commission has set candidate registration for 27-28 December 2025, with nationwide voting scheduled for 8 February 2026.
Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, known as Big Pom, was born on 11 August 1945, and is 80 years old as of 2025. He currently serves as leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, a former party-list MP, chairman of the Joint Forest Conservation Foundation for five provinces, and is the party’s prime ministerial candidate. He is the eldest son of Maj. Gen. Prasert and Mrs. Saisanee Wongsuwan, with four younger brothers: Adm. Sitthawat Wongsuwan, former special advisor to the Navy; Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and former National Police Chief; Mr. Pongpan Wongsuwan, former head coach of TOT football club (deceased); and Mr. Panpong Wongsuwan.
Gen. Prawit graduated from Saint Gabriel's School in 1962. In 1965, he completed the Armed Forces Preparatory School, Class 6, then graduated from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Class 17, in 1969. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College, Class 56, in 1978, and graduated from the National Defence College, Class 40, in 1997. Gen. Prawit’s military career was primarily in the First Army Area in the eastern region, assigned to the 21st Infantry Regiment, Queen’s Guards, known as the Queen’s Tigers. He was a senior classmate and close to two former Army Commanders: Gen. Anupong Paochinda (Big Pok) and Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha (Big Tu), the 29th Prime Minister and Privy Councillor.
Gen. Prawit was appointed Minister of Defence in the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2008. Later, he was appointed Advisor to the Director of the Emergency Situation Administration Center (ESAC) under the Prime Minister’s Office Order No. 98/2009. By late 2010, government reporters nicknamed him “Pom Thalu Pao” (Pom Piercing the Target) for his security achievements in dispersing the Red Shirt protests successfully, as well as for his role in budget approvals amid controversy as director of the Emergency Situation Administration Center. Following the 2014 coup, Gen. Prawit was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Board, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence in Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. He also chaired over 50 committees.
On 27 June 2020, the Palang Pracharath Party held its annual general meeting and appointed a new executive committee, electing Gen. Prawit as party leader. On 24 August 2022, Gen. Prawit served as Acting Prime Minister when the Constitutional Court ordered Gen. Prayut to suspend duties. Ahead of the next election, Gen. Prawit parted ways with Gen. Prayut, who joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party. In the 2023 election, Gen. Prawit ran as the party-list candidate number one and was the sole party-list MP for Palang Pracharath. Under the new government led by the Pheu Thai Party, Palang Pracharath joined the coalition, sending members to ministerial posts, although Gen. Prawit did not hold a ministerial seat himself.
Meanwhile, the Palang Pracharath Party has undergone various changes, such as the faction led by Capt. Thammanat Prompao taking MPs to join the Kla Party, Mr. Santi Promphat joining the Bhumjaithai Party, and Mr. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn leaving to lead the Rak Chart Party. Recently, several new members joined Palang Pracharath, including Lt. Col. Chalerm Yubamrung, a former party-list MP of the Pheu Thai Party, whose son, Mr. Wan Yubamrung, had joined earlier.
For the 2026 election, Gen. Prawit remains the prime ministerial candidate for Palang Pracharath. Various old and new parties will compete in the contest, and attention will focus on which party will lead the government formation and who will become the next prime minister.
