The People’s Party unveiled its second management team member, Pisal Manawapat, a former 250-member Senate appointee during the NCPO period and former Thai ambassador to several countries, as its candidate for Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On 6 Jan 2025 GMT+7, the People’s Party (PChon.) revealed its People’s Government management team called The Professionals, should the PChon. form the government. Today they introduced the second candidate for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Pisal Manawapat, a former 250-member senator and former Thai ambassador to multiple countries.
The PChon. stated that it is time to unlock and reform the bureaucracy to advance "diplomacy that yields results." Many might be surprised to hear the name of senator Pisal Manawapat in the party’s management team, but it is well known that Ambassador Pisal was one of 13 senators who voted to endorse Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat as Prime Minister after the 2023 election. Pisal’s role if the People’s Party forms the government would align perfectly as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The former diplomat served as Thailand’s ambassador to the United States, Canada, India, and was head of the Thai delegation to the European Union. He also served on the board of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Instead of retiring after nearly 40 years in public service or offering opinions based on his extensive foreign affairs experience, he chose a challenging path, driven by a desire to see Thailand return to the world’s radar after international signals have been unresponsive for over a decade since the 2014 coup.
A major task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs beyond resolving border disputes is maintaining a balance among major powers, which Pisal said Thailand does not need to fear or adopt an overly neutral stance.
“If we are closer to someone and gain more benefits, we should move closer. If we are distant from someone and it does not harm our interests, maintaining some distance is fine. Therefore, do not be pro any side—be pro Thailand alone,” Pisal stated.
The People’s Party also noted that this marks an important step for Pisal Manawapat’s full entry into politics. If the party forms a government, Ambassador Pisal will join the foreign affairs management team to unlock the bureaucracy, address Thailand’s root problems, create "diplomacy that yields results" free from fear, and genuinely connect with the Thai people's way of life.
The People’s Party highlighted key missions of the Foreign Minister: issues such as Trump tariffs, the Thailand-Cambodia conflict, the Myanmar war, and scams have drawn unprecedented attention to Thai foreign affairs and deeply affected the public. Yet, the past 20 years could be called a "lost decade" for foreign affairs, as Thailand became overlooked and its dignity faded on the world stage.
But Thailand is not a small country. By conducting diplomacy with grace, adhering to principles, negotiating boldly, and creating "pro-Thai" diplomacy focused solely on national interests without favoring any major power, Thailand can regain its dignity on the global stage after two decades. This is the mission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the administration of the People’s Government.