Srettha Thavisin

Srettha Thavisin, born on 15 February 1962, in Bangkok, Thailand, is the only child of Captain Amnuay Thavisin and Chodchoy Thavisin (née Jutrakul; 1928 - 2024). His family's lineage is connected to five notable Thai Chinese business dynasties: Yip in Tsoi, Chakkapak, Jutrakul, Lamsam, and Buranasiri. When Srettha was three years old in 1966, his father died and Chodchoy raised him as a single mother.

Srettha attended primary school at Prasarnmit Demonstration School of Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, then moved to the United States for secondary school. Srettha attended Bloxham School from 1979-1981. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He further advanced his academic credentials by earning a Master of Business Administration, specialising in Finance, from Claremont Graduate University.

Education

Before becoming prime minister, Srettha was an advocate for reducing educational inequality. He aimed to nurture knowledgeable and morally responsible young individuals who understand the importance of collaboration in building a better society and nation. His administration was also dedicated to creating Thailand's first comprehensive database on school dropouts. Srettha has expressed a commitment to eliminating barriers to education for Thai children, setting a goal to reduce the number of children without educational opportunities to zero. Additionally, he emphasized the need to develop the skills of young people and highlighted the significance of investing in education as a means to enhance quality of life and civic responsibilities.

Real estate

Srettha began his professional journey at Procter & Gamble as an assistant product manager, a role he held for four years after graduating from Claremont Graduate University in 1986. His entrepreneurial venture took off in 1988 when he co-founded Sansiri, which emerged as one of Thailand's premier real estate developers. His leadership steered the company to successfully develop over 400 residential projects.

In 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra inaugurating the Thailand 2020: Thailand's New Step to the World Expo at the Chaeng Watthana government complex on 12 March. The expo showcased the government's proposed ฿2 trillion investments. Srettha, having inspected a nearby residential project, visited the expo and recommended that his Sansiri colleagues do the same, recognising its potential influence on the real estate sector. Despite public concerns about the project's financing and potential debt implications, Srettha expressed his support. In early 2019, he wrote favourably about the 2020 Expo, which paralleled his advocacy for a digital wallet scheme during his tenure as prime minister.

Srettha's leadership at Sansiri contributed to the company's growth, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, he acquired a land parcel at the corner of Sarasin road near Lumphini Park in Bangkok. The purchase costed ฿3.9 million per square wah (approximately 4m²), and is one of the most expensive land purchases in Thai history. Additionally, in the same year, Srettha acquired a 15% stake in XSpring Capital Public Company Limited.

His business career was put on hold when he decided to engage in electoral politics in 2023. Due to regulations in Thai electoral laws prohibiting elected officials from owning or holding shares in companies, Srettha transferred all his shares to his daughter, Chanada Thavisin, on 8 March 2023. This transfer included his shares in Sansiri, representing 4.4% of the company.

Srettha's nickname is Nid (Thai: นิด, RTGS: Nit, pronounced [nít]). He is 1.92 metres (6 ft 4 in) tall, which made him the tallest leader within ASEAN and the third tallest in the world behind Edi Rama of Albania and Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia when he was in office.

Srettha is married to Pakpilai Thavisin, a businesswoman. They have two sons, Napat Thavisin and Warat Thavisin, and one daughter, Chananda Thavisin. His mother, Chodchoy, died on 21 July 2024. Her funeral was granted royal-sponsored bathing rites by King Vajiralongkorn on 30 July and was held on 6 August.

He is a collector of classic travel trunks, such as those made by Louis Vuitton. Srettha also is a supporter of Liverpool F.C., and also contributes to Sansiri Academy which trains football players in Thailand. Srettha frequently uses social media, especially on X where he actively uses his account to post updates.

On 28 December 2023, the NACC revealed that he had a wealth valued around ฿659 million, and that he owns a 1963 Aston Martin DB5 worth ฿50 million. His yearly earnings were around ฿153 million.

Early political career

The 2013–2014 Thai political crisis was a period of significant political unrest in Thailand. During this time, Srettha expressed opposition to the People's Democratic Reform Committee. Following the 2014 coup, he complied with a summons from the National Council for Peace and Order, reporting to the Royal Thai Army auditorium.

Srettha maintained political connections with Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra, who have both served as prime ministers. In the 2023 Thai general election, he was amongst the prime ministerial candidates for the Pheu Thai Party. The other candidates from the party included Thaksin's youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, a former justice minister.

2023 election

In November, 2022, Srettha announced his intention to join the Pheu Thai Party. During the 2023 Thai general elections, he was named one of the party's three prime ministerial candidates on 5 April 2023. Throughout the campaign, polls frequently showed him trailing behind Paetongtarn in the race for the preferred prime ministerial choice.

Srettha launched his campaign in Bangkok's Khlong Toei district and delivered his inaugural campaign speech in Phichit province. Later, during a speech in Loei province in mid-April, he stated that Pheu Thai would not consider forming a coalition with Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation, citing their roles in the 2014 coup.

Following the election on 14 May, Pheu Thai emerged as the party with the second-highest number of seats, trailing behind the Move Forward Party. The party then formed a coalition with Move Forward and six other parties. However, in the first round of parliamentary voting on 13 July, Pita Limjaroenrat, Leader of the Move Forward Party, failed to secure enough votes. Subsequently, Pita's second nomination for prime minister was blocked on 19 July on procedural grounds.

After Move Forward failed to form a government, it gave way for Pheu Thai to attempt to form one. This coalition initially only excluded the Move Forward Party, but expanded on 7 August to include the Bhumjaithai Party. In a notable shift from their earlier election stance, the coalition further expanded to incorporate the Palang Pracharath Party and United Thai Nation Party. Srettha described this expansion, which contradicted earlier election promises, as a necessary strategic move.

Subsequently, the Constitutional Court dismissed a petition by the ombudsman questioning the constitutionality of Parliament's rejection of Pita Limjaroenrat. A new round of parliamentary voting was scheduled for 22 August. During this session, Srettha delivered a speech to Parliament, outlining his vision and goals should he become prime minister, and also responded to questions from MPs and senators. His candidacy received support from Thaksin Shinawatra.

Srettha was elected as the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand, following a nomination by the Pheu Thai Party. In a special joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, he secured 482 votes out of 728.

Business controversies

On 17 February 2012, Srettha admitted to having met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na Ranong at the Four Seasons Hotel where they discussed Thailand's financial situation on 8 February alongside others. The meeting was controversial due to Akeyuth Anchanbutr claiming he was attacked by someone who worked for Thaksin. The meeting would go on to cause a scandal for both Srettha and Yingluck. The Democrat Party, who were the main opposition party, called on a probe into the meeting and Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut accused Yingluck of telling Srettha her government's flood prevention projects as she was due for a tour of flood affected provinces. Additionally, deputy spokeswoman Mallika Boonmeetrakul called on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investiage Srettha's assets.

On 17 August 2023, Chuwit Kamolvisit filed a complaint with the deputy commissioner-general of police, Surachate Hakparn, seeking an investigation into Srettha's 2019 land purchase in Bangkok. Chuwit accused Srettha and Sansiri of tax evasion. In response to these allegations, Srettha filed a defamation lawsuit for ฿500 million against Chuwit, specifically regarding comments made during a press conference on 3 August.