A profile of Sophon Sarum, a close associate of Newin Chidchob directly linked to Buriram, named in the new government to move from Deputy Prime Minister to the head of the legislature as Speaker of the House.
On 17 February 2026, reporters noted that the new cabinet lineup under Anutin is starting to be revealed, showing who will head which ministries. Although Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told the media that official results must await the Election Commission’s announcement, behind the scenes efforts continue to recruit both small and major parties into the coalition. Notably, Sophon Sarum, a loyalist from the Buriram power base and current Deputy Prime Minister, is reportedly being positioned for a legislative role. Rumors circulate that he may become Speaker of the House of Representatives. However, insiders from the Bhumjaithai Party say the position will be contested between Sophon and Pradorn Prissanantakul, the incoming Bhumjaithai MP for Ang Thong, who previously served as Deputy Speaker and was widely praised for his effective meeting management.
Biography of Sophon Sarum
Sophon Sarum was born on 31 March 1959 and is currently 67 years old. He hails from Lam Plai Mat district in Buriram province. His father, Sanan Sarum, worked as a village headman. Sophon has one elder brother, Sombun Sarum, a former MP for Buriram’s third district representing the Bhumjaithai Party, who was implicated in a vote-rigging scandal. However, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence.
Sophon is married to Areeyaporn Sarum, mayor of Lam Plai Mat municipality. They have three children, including Anatphon Sarum, a former member of the Buriram Provincial Administrative Organization council, who tragically died in an accident in 2017 at age 30. After his son’s death, Sophon established the Anatphon Sarum Foundation (also known as Look Teng Foundation) and serves as its chairman to support community welfare.
Regarding education, Sophon earned a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education from Buriram Teachers College. Before entering politics, he worked as a teacher. In 2001, he ran for MP in Buriram under the Chart Thai Party and was elected. In 2005, he switched to the Thai Rak Thai Party and won re-election. After Thai Rak Thai was dissolved, he joined the People's Power Party, which was also later disbanded.
In 2007, Sophon, a close ally of Newin Chidchob, joined the Bhumjaithai Party, formed from a split with the People's Power Party and merged with MPs from the Neutral Democratic Party to support the Democrat Party’s Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister.
Sophon’s key political roles include serving as Deputy Minister of Transport in Somchai Wongsawat’s government, Minister of Transport under Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Chairman of the Transport Committee during Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration. Currently, he chairs the Education Committee. Recently, he was named Deputy Prime Minister in Anutin’s first cabinet, marking his return to ministerial office after 14 years.
In the 2026 election, the Bhumjaithai Party won a landslide with 193 seats, bringing Sophon back into prominence. This time, he is named as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If confirmed, Buriram province will hold both the Speaker of the House and the Senate President positions, as Mongkol Surasatja, also from Buriram, currently serves as Senate President.
