Biography of Surapol Nitikraipoj: Political Role Shift from Former PDRC Ally to Key Advisor for Peoples Governor Team

Biography of Surapol Nitikraipoj, a leading public law scholar, former rector of Thammasat University, adviser to the Prime Minister and National Legislative Assembly member, participant in the PDRC protests, who shifted to become a key expert witness in the Move Forward Party dissolution case, and currently serves as chairman of strategic advisers for the People's Governor team in Bangkok.

On 2 June 2026, the People’s Party revealed the full management team for the People's Governor campaign, including among them: Professor Dr. Surapol Nitikraipoj. A legal expert and former rector of Thammasat University, he holds the position of chairman of strategic advisers for the People's Governor team. The party recognizes that Professor Dr. Surapol, in addition to being a leading public law scholar, has contributed legal advice on several laws related to decentralization and administrative organization of Bangkok's government. He also has experience in Bangkok's public sector, having been appointed chairman of the board of Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited, a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) enterprise in which BMA holds 99.98% shares. This entity handles major public utility projects that cannot be managed efficiently through the regular government bureaucracy, such as the Green Line electric train project, waste and environmental management, underground communication cable projects, and public water transport management.

Biography of Surapol Nitikraipoj.

Professor Dr. Surapol Nitikraipoj was born on 19 September 1960 in Udon Thani Province. In 2026, he will be 66 years old. He is married to Janya Nitikraipoj and has two daughters, Ms. Pathu Nitikraipoj and Ms. Patra Nitikraipoj, both studying at Thammasat University.

Education.

During secondary school, he graduated from Loei Pittayakom School and earned a Bachelor of Laws (second-class honors) from the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University. He completed the 35th Thai Barrister-at-Law Course at the Institute of Legal Training of the Thai Bar Association. He obtained the Diplôme d’études approfondies de droit public from the University of Strasbourg III, France, and a Doctorate from the University Robert Schuman of Strasbourg (with highest honors). He also earned a certificate from the International Institute of Public Administration on decentralization and local governance (IIAP) in Paris, France. Additionally, he received an honorary doctorate from Soka University in Japan and a certificate from the National Defence College of Thailand in 2010.

Career path.

Professor Dr. Surapol has held numerous positions as lecturer, rector, dean, committee chairman, director, legal adviser, and adviser to the Prime Minister, including:

• Rector of Thammasat University, 2004 – 2010.
• Dean of the Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, 2001 – 2004.
• Chairman of the Board, MCOT Public Company Limited, 2008 – 2011.
• Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Independent Committee, PTT Public Company Limited, 2009 – 2012.
• Chairman of the Board of Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited (a BMA enterprise), 2014 – 2016.
• Director and founder of the Public Law Certificate Training Program (3-month course), Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, 1995.
• Legal adviser to the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, 1995.
• Legal adviser to Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa, 1995.
• Adviser to the Minister of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (Boonchu Tree-thong), 1995.
• Legal and justice adviser to the Governor of Bangkok, 1995.
• Member of the National Research Council in the field of law, 1996.
• Member of the complaint adjudication committee, Office of the Council of State, 1996.
• Executive committee member of Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, 1998.
• Member of the Board of Rattana Bundit University, 2001.
• Expert committee member of Rangsit University Council, 2002.
• Legal adviser to the Ministry of Education, 2003.
• Chairman of the committee for reforming Bangkok’s civil service system, 2005.
• Legal adviser to the Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (Public Organization), 2005.
• Member of the National Legislative Assembly, 2006.
• Chairman of the legal advisory committee to the Ministry of Education, 2006.
• Legal adviser to the Election Commission, 2012.
• Special adviser to the Administrative Court, 2012.
• Member of the Thammasat Department, Ananda Mahidol Foundation, 2014.
• Independent director of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, 2014.
• Member of the National Institute of Educational Testing Service, 2015.
• Executive committee member of the National Brain Institute, 2015.
• Vice-chairman of the Thai Institute of Directors Association, 2015.

Current positions.

• Professor in Public Law, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University.
• Chairman of the Executive Board, Thammasat University Hospital.
• President of the Council, Navamindradhiraj University.
• Vice-president of the Vidhyasirimedhi Institute.
• Independent director of PTT Public Company Limited.
• Special adviser to the Administrative Court and legal adviser to the Election Commission.
• Expert committee member of the Public Organization Promotion and Development Committee (PODC).
• Member of the 8th Council of State Committee, Office of the Council of State.
• Chairman of the Executive Board, Kamnoetvidya Science Academy School.
• Chairman of the Executive Board, Thammasat University Book Center.
• Chairman of the Executive Board, Thammasat University Kindergarten.

Political role of Surapol Nitikraipoj: Shift to the Orange Party.

Professor Dr. Surapol has an interesting political career, having been involved with and advised various political factions—from conservative strategists to collaborating with new political parties. In 1995, he served as legal adviser to Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa’s government and adviser to the Minister of the Office of the Higher Education Commission. He also acted as legal adviser to the Election Commission and special adviser to the Administrative Court, important bodies in public law.

After the 2006 coup, Professor Dr. Surapol was appointed a member of the National Legislative Assembly while serving as rector of Thammasat University. He also acted as vice-chairman of the special committee on political reform, drafting and reviewing key legislation.

During the political crisis of 2013–2014, he joined the People's Committee for Democracy Reform (PDRC) protests against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra.

In July 2024, Professor Dr. Surapol again gained political attention as an expert witness for the Move Forward Party in the Constitutional Court dissolution case. Using his expertise in public law, he provided academic opinions opposing the party's dissolution.

Most recently, on 2 June 2026, Professor Dr. Surapol was mentioned once more when the People’s Party announced him as chairman of strategic advisers for the People's Governor management team, supporting Chaiwat Sathawornwijit, the party's candidate for Bangkok governor.