“Chuan” delivered a keynote at the International Liberal Forum, pointing out political business monopolies with a single family producing four prime ministers, leading to government takeover and Senate interference, urging not to sacrifice principles for temporary victory instead of yielding to short-term success in elections.,
On 3 Nov 2026, Chuan Leekpai, party-list MP from the Democrat Party, former two-term Prime Minister and former Speaker of Parliament, gave a keynote address to delegates and allies from Liberal International and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, led by Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Paqué and joined by Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat Party leader and former Prime Minister, on the topic of building a strong and resilient democracy for a secure future.
Chuan reflected on political lessons from his over half-century career, critically examining corruption issues and the threat posed by monetary systems to Thailand’s democratic regime.
Chuan began by recounting his political experience: currently serving his 18th term as MP, totaling 57 years since first elected in 1959, including over six years as Prime Minister, terms as Speaker of the House and Parliament, and three terms as opposition leader.
He stated that raising these points was not to boast about his long tenure but to speak as a legal eyewitness who has personally seen and experienced 94 years of Thai democracy’s evolution, not just heard or read about it. He affirmed that the Democrat Party, over 80 years, has played a key role in foundational policies improving grassroots quality of life, including school lunch programs, elderly allowances, student loan funds benefiting over 7 million youths, and successfully pushing the budget to build Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Chuan highlighted a crucial turning point in Thai politics: as military coups and military roles diminished, business groups gained greater influence. While some brought professional expertise, others entered with financial power, treating democracy as a platform for personal gain and capital recoupment, leading to a spread of political business (Money Politics).
“In recent years, one family has produced four prime ministers: first one, then the brother-in-law, then the sister, and the daughter. None managed to maintain sustainable tenure; two were imprisoned, and one was removed by the Constitutional Court for behavior violating ethical standards,” Chuan said.
He added that fortunately, Thailand’s justice system still upholds the rule of law, but the political crisis dominated by money remains a serious structural challenge.
The former prime minister further explained that this vicious cycle has evolved beyond vote-buying into infiltrating the bureaucracy through politically motivated appointments and transfers, from ministers and secretaries to permanent secretaries and department heads. Most concerning now is the patronage system’s expansion into selecting the 200-member Senate, whose role in approving appointments to independent bodies such as the Constitutional Court, Attorney General, Election Commission, and Anti-Corruption Commission is critical.
Chuan revealed that in reality, over half of the Senate has become a tool for corrupt politicians to place favored individuals into independent organizations, causing the checks and balances mechanism to fail. This is reflected in Thailand’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score of only 33 out of 100, ranking 116th out of 182 countries worldwide, contrasting with the country’s image as a top global destination.
Towards the end, Chuan emphasized that raising these issues was not intended to undermine confidence in liberal democracy but to awaken awareness of the value of integrity. The Democrat Party, as the opposition, will continue to scrutinize improper use of power through joint motions of no confidence in the House of Representatives.
Chuan also offered a warning to politicians and all participants: “Do not sacrifice your principles merely to secure temporary electoral victories. Uphold the rule of law, protect integrity as your most valuable duty, and courageously face challenges so democracy can advance for the nation’s and people’s highest benefit.” Chuan reiterated his statement.
