Profile revealed "Major Thammanat Prompao" Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Kla Tham Party, the number one prime minister candidate preparing for the 2026 election
On 16 December 2025, reporters noted growing attention on the prime minister candidates from the Kla Tham Party, with two names already disclosed: Major Thammanat Prompao and Professor Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat.
Professor Dr. Narumon Pinyosinwat said this morning regarding the announcement of the Kla Tham Party's prime minister candidate that Major Thammanat Prompao, Chairman of the Party's Advisory Board, will definitely be the number one prime minister candidate.
Major Thammanat Prompao currently serves as Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. He was born on 18 August 1965 and is 60 years old. His former names include Yutthapoom Boprom, Phachara Boprom, Phachara Prompao, and Manat Prompao.
Major Thammanat graduated from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, Class 25 (combined arms Class 2); earned a Bachelor of Science from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, Class 36; received an honorary Master of Buddhist Studies from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University; a Master of Arts in Political Science from Ramkhamhaeng University; and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration from California University FCE, USA.
He has served as chairman of companies under the Thammanat Group, which conducts various businesses, notably holding shares in T.P. Guard Security Co., Ltd., which includes General Trairong Intaratat, former advisor to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as a board member. He also chaired Kwanrudee Limited Partnership, a major distributor of government lottery tickets. Additionally, Major Thammanat was president of the Phayao provincial football club.
Major Thammanat began his political journey with the Thai Rak Thai Party of Thaksin Shinawatra in 1999, managing election strategy in Bangkok. In 2014, he registered as a party-list MP candidate for the Pheu Thai Party; however, the election was nullified. Being native to Phayao Province, he is well acquainted with "Je Daeng" Yaowapha Wongsawat, sister of Thaksin Shinawatra.
In 2018, Major Thammanat joined the Palang Pracharath Party as chairman of the party’s Northern Strategy Committee and was elected MP for Phayao Province, Constituency 1, defeating incumbent Arunee Chamnanya of the Pheu Thai Party. In 2021, he was appointed secretary-general of the Palang Pracharath Party.
In 2022, the executive committee of Palang Pracharath Party resolved to expel him and 21 other MPs. On 10 June 2022, he was elected leader of the Thai Economic Party, succeeding General Wichai Thephasadin Na Ayutthaya, who had resigned.
In February 2023, Major Thammanat rejoined the Palang Pracharath Party ahead of the major election in May. Two months later, the party congress elected him again as secretary-general, marking his second term.
In 2024, under the government of Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Major Thammanat led a faction of Palang Pracharath MPs to break away and declared their intention to form a coalition government with the Pheu Thai Party after the House approved Paethongtarn as prime minister. However, he was not selected as a minister in the Palang Pracharath quota, leading him to part ways with General Prawit Wongsuwan.
On 4 September 2024, Major Thammanat resigned as secretary-general of Palang Pracharath Party and joined the Kla Tham Party, where he currently serves as chairman of the party’s advisory board.
Looking ahead to the 2026 election, various established and new parties will compete. Attention will focus on which party will lead the government formation and who will become the next prime minister.