Pisarn Manawapat stated that his past personal issues have been resolved through the appropriate authorities. His family has forgiven him and supports his move into politics. He denied defending the NCPO but said he spoke as a representative of Thailand rather than on their behalf.
On 7 Jan 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that after the People's Party announced... Pisarn Manawapat the former senator during the NCPO era and former Thai ambassador to several countries, was named as the candidate for Minister of Foreign Affairs if the People's Party forms the government. This sparked debate over his qualifications under Article 112 of the constitution, which states that anyone who has served as a senator and whose term ended less than two years prior cannot hold ministerial or political office, except as local council or local executive members.
Subsequently, Pawin Chatchawalpongphan a political activist, repeatedly posted on his personal Facebook and issued an open letter to the People's Party and the media, calling for a review of Pisarn's qualifications. He questioned whether the party applies the same ethical scrutiny to its own members as it does to others and urged social media and the press to closely follow the issue. He also tagged Rakchanok Srinok, a People's Party list MP candidate, noting her skill in ethical oversight of other parties but questioning why she has not examined Pisarn's ethics.
Additionally, Pawin's posts alleged that Pisarn was his direct superior at the Department of International Economic Affairs and that he knows Pisarn very well—enough to be alarmed. He accused Pisarn of writing letters to major global media editors distorting facts to claim that Thailand had no political prisoners during his tenure as ambassador to Washington, defending the coup, and engaging in extramarital affairs by secretly having a relationship with a barber without his wife’s knowledge, leading to a widely circulated confession note within the ministry. Pawin questioned how someone like Pisarn could represent the party.
Most recently, the People's Party released a statement from Pisarn Manawapat as part of the People's Party government management team for foreign affairs, explaining that the accusations about his role as ambassador to the United States defending the NCPO after the coup stem from a clarification letter issued by the embassy in Washington to the editors of the Washington Post. This letter was not his personal statement but was drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sent by the embassy as standard procedure when political issues in Thailand are mentioned by foreign media. The Ministry's Department of Information drafts such letters and instructs embassies to send them to media editors, who often publish them to provide additional perspectives for readers.
Pisarn further explained that on 22 May 2014, the day of the coup, he was serving as Thailand’s ambassador to Canada and was urgently invited by two Canadian TV stations for live interviews that same day. He decided to appear because he could not wait for approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was shut down due to protests. He understood the importance of preserving Thailand’s credibility and wanted to assure Canadians living in Thailand of their safety.
“During that interview, I do not recall making any statements supporting the coup. The host’s final question was whether I was speaking on behalf of the ousted government or the military government. I replied that I was speaking as a representative of Thailand. For those interested in my views on human rights, please refer to my speeches during my senate tenure, which I compiled in the report book titled...” ‘Senator’s Report to the People: A Difficult Mission Still Awaiting Implementation’ Regarding my personal issues from over 20 years ago, I admit my mistakes and have gone through the proper disciplinary procedures with the relevant authorities. My family has forgiven me and supports my political work to help restore Thailand’s foreign relations with dignity, drawing on my real experience.”