Chavarat Charnvirakul

Chavarat Charnvirakul
MPCh WMW MBE
Chavarat Charnvirakul MPCh WMW MBE
ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกุล
Prime Minister of Thailand; Acting
	In office; 2 December 2008 – 17 December 2008
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Somchai Wongsawat
Succeeded by	Abhisit Vejjajiva
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
	In office; 24 September 2008 – 16 December 2008
Prime Minister	Somchai Wongsawat
Minister of the Interior
	In office; 20 December 2008 – 6 August 2011
Prime Minister	Abhisit Vejjajiva
Preceded by	Kowit Wattana
Succeeded by	Yongyuth Wichaidit
Ministry of Public Health
	In office; 2 August 2008 – 23 September 2008
Prime Minister	Samak Sundaravej
Preceded by	Chaiya Sasomsub
Succeeded by	Chalerm Yubamrung
Minister of Social Development and Human Security
	In office; 24 May 2008 – 2 August 2008
Prime Minister	Samak Sundaravej
Preceded by	Sutha Chansaeng
Succeeded by	Anusorn Wongwan
Personal details
Born	7 June 1936 (age 87); Bangkok, Siam
Political party	Bhumjaithai Party (2009–present)
Other political; affiliations	People's Power Party (2007–2008)
Spouse	Tassanee Chanweerakul
Alma mater	Thammasat University
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Volunteer Defense Corps
Rank	VDC Gen.

Chavarat Charnvirakul (Thai: ชวรัตน์ ชาญวีรกุล, RTGS: Chawarat Chanwirakun, Thai pronunciation: [t͡ɕʰá.wá.rát t͡ɕʰaːn.wiː.rá.kun]; born 7 June 1936 in Bangkok) is a Thai politician. He had served as an Acting Prime Minister of Thailand as a result of the 2008 Thai political crisis.

Chaovarat graduated from Thammasat University in 1966 with a degree in economics.^[2]

After spending many years in the public sector, he joined the government in 1994 as Deputy Minister of Finance, his tenure lasted till 1997. In 2008 He rejoined the government as Minister of Public Health and later Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand.^[2]

On 2 December 2008, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the People's Power Party and other coalition parties, at the same time banning their chief executives. The incumbent Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was then removed along with several other members of the Cabinet. Chaovarat, however, was the only senior Cabinet figure who was not a party executive and was therefore the only viable candidate. Either the House of Representatives of Thailand had to confirm him as the new Prime Minister, or the new political grouping must vote for a new leader and submit his name for approval.^[3] There has been some questions - even a letter submitted to the Constitutional Court by Senators - concerning the legality of his temporary appointment as Prime Minister (even in a caretaker capacity). This is because the 2007 Constitution of Thailand states that the Prime Minister must be a member of the House of Representatives; Chaovarat was not an MP.^[4] Chaovarat was replaced by Abhisit Vejjajiva on 15 December 2008. He was appointed Minister of Interior of Thailand in the Abhisit cabinet, a post which he held until the government's electoral defeat in 2011. Since 14 February 2009, Chaovarat has been the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.

References

^ http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2552/B/008/15.PDF
^ ^a ^b "Royal Thai Government". The Nation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ Somroutai Sapsomboon (3 December 2008). "Questions arise as dissolutions put electoral system in a vacuum". The Nation. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Senate to forward complaint about caretaker PM's qualification to court this week". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Political offices
Preceded by Somchai Wongsawat	Prime Minister of Thailand Acting 2008	Succeeded by Abhisit Vejjajiva
Preceded by Kowit Wattana	Minister of the Interior 2008–2011	Succeeded by Yongyuth Wichaidit

[1] ttp://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2552/B/008/15.PDF

[thaigov.go.th-2] "Royal Thai Government". The Nation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[3] Somroutai Sapsomboon (3 December 2008). "Questions arise as dissolutions put electoral system in a vacuum". The Nation. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[4] "Senate to forward complaint about caretaker PM's qualification to court this week". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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v t e Prime ministers of Thailand (list)
Prajadhipok	Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena
Ananda Mahidol	Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena Plaek Phibunsongkhram Khuang Aphaiwong Thawi Bunyaket Seni Pramoj Khuang Aphaiwong Pridi Banomyong
Bhumibol Adulyadej	Pridi Banomyong Thawan Thamrongnawasawat Khuang Aphaiwong Plaek Phibunsongkhram Pote Sarasin Thanom Kittikachorn Sarit Thanarat Thanom Kittikachorn Sanya Dharmasakti Seni Pramoj Kukrit Pramoj Seni Pramoj Thanin Kraivichien Kriangsak Chamanan Prem Tinsulanonda Chatichai Choonhavan Anand Panyarachun Suchinda Kraprayoon Meechai Ruchuphan† Anand Panyarachun Chuan Leekpai Banharn Silpa-archa Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Chuan Leekpai Thaksin Shinawatra Chitchai Wannasathit† Thaksin Shinawatra Surayud Chulanont Samak Sundaravej Somchai Wongsawat Chavarat Charnvirakul† Abhisit Vejjajiva Yingluck Shinawatra Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan† Prayut Chan-o-cha
Vajiralongkorn	Prayut Chan-o-cha Prawit Wongsuwon† Srettha Thavisin
"italics" indicate military officeholders "†" indicate acting or caretaker officeholders.

v t e Cabinets of Thailand since 1932 by prime ministers
1932–1973	People's Committee Manopakorn Phahon Phibun I Khuang I Thawi Seni I Khuang II Pridi Thawan Khuang III Phibun II Pote Thanom I Sarit Thanom II
1973–present	Sanya Kukrit Seni II Thanin Kriangsak Prem Chatichai Anand I Suchinda Anand II Chuan I Banharn Chavalit Chuan II Thaksin Surayud Samak Somchai Abhisit Yingluck Prayut I Prayut II Srettha
Military Councils	Coup Group (Phibunsongkhram) Revolutionary Council (Sarit) National Executive Council (Thanom) National Administrative Reform Council (Sangad) National Peace Keeping Council (Sunthorn) Council for National Security (Sonthi) National Council for Peace and Order (Prayut)