Introducing Atthawit Suwanpakdee, a former young Democrat, founder of the Kla Party, now the second prime ministerial candidate of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
On 22 December 2025 GMT+7, it became clear that the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (RTSC) officially announced its prime ministerial candidates: Mr. Peerapun Saleerathvipak, party leader, as the first candidate; Mr. Atthawit Suwanpakdee, deputy leader, as the second; and Mr. Narapat Kaewthong, also deputy leader, as the third. The party unveiled the slogan “Decisively Resolve the Crisis, Transform the Nation,” highlighting policies such as canceling MOU 43-44, building a Thai-Cambodian border fence, granting soldiers 200,000 baht combat allowances, and offering 30,000 baht for voluntary military conscripts.
Mr. Atthawit Suwanpakdee, nicknamed Ae, was born on 26 March 1978. He is the son of Mr. Sompong Suwanpakdee and Mrs. Pakinee Suwanpakdee, a former deputy leader of the Chart Pattana Party and multiple-term MP. He is married to Pin Suwanpakdee (née Burapachaisri); the couple met while studying at Thammasat University and have two children.
Atthawit's education includes graduating from Saint Gabriel's School, earning a bachelor's degree in law from Thammasat University, and a master's degree (LL.M.) in Financial Law and Banking from Boston University, USA.
Mr. Atthawit began as a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance, working at the Fiscal Policy Office, responsible for legal affairs and economic stimulus measures.
In 2007, he entered politics with the Democrat Party and was elected as a Bangkok MP representing Chatuchak-Laksi district at age 29. He was known as a prominent young politician within the party and gained recognition for his aggressive opposition role in parliament, particularly scrutinizing the rice pledging scheme and budget debates.
In 2020, he resigned from the Democrat Party to join Mr. Korn Chatikavanij in founding the Kla Party, serving as its secretary-general. The party emphasized a pragmatic approach and solving economic issues through technology. Later, Kla merged with the Chart Pattana Party to become Chart Pattana Kla Party, where Atthawit was appointed deputy leader. After Mr. Korn left, Atthawit joined the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and was appointed advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Peerapun Saleerathvipak.
Most recently, Mr. Atthawit was appointed the second prime ministerial candidate of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, tasked with overseeing the party's economic policies in the upcoming election.
