Sudarat Keyuraphan

Sudarat Keyuraphan (Thai: สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์, pronounced [sù(ʔ).dāː.rát kēː.jú(ʔ).rāː.pʰān]) is a Thai politician and former chairwoman of Pheu Thai Party's strategic committee.[2] She held various positions in the cabinet and served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament.[3] She was her party's prime minister candidate in the 2019 Thai general election.

Khun Ying

Sudarat Keyuraphan
สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
In office
11 March 2005 – 19 September 2006
Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra
Preceded byWan Muhamad Noor Matha
Succeeded byTheera Sutabut
Minister of Public Health
In office
17 February 2001 – 10 March 2005
Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra
Preceded byKorn Dabbaransi
Succeeded bySuchai Charoenratanakul
Deputy Minister of the Interior
In office
28 May 1996 – 14 August 1996
Prime MinisterBanharn Silpa-archa
Preceded byAnusorn Wongwan
Succeeded byArsa Meksawan
Deputy Minister of Transport
In office
25 October 1994 – 19 May 1995
Prime MinisterChuan Leekpai
Preceded byPinit Jarusombat
Succeeded byDej Boonlang
Member of the Thai House of Representatives
In office
1993–2001
Personal details
Born (1961-05-01) 1 May 1961
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyThai Rak Thai Party (1998–2006)
Pheu Thai Party (2018–2020)
Spouse(s)Somyos Leelapanyalert
Children3
EducationChulalongkorn University (BS, MBA)
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (PhD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Thailand
Branch/service Volunteer Defense Corps
RankVDC Col[1]

Family and personal life

Sudarat was born in Bangkok to Mr. Sompon Keyurapan and Mrs. Renu Keyuraphan. Her father was the former Member of Parliament from Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Sudarat graduated high-school from St. Joseph Convent School in Bangkok. She earned her bachelor's degree from Chulalongkorn University in commerce and accountancy and a master's degree from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration. In 2018, she earned her doctoral degree in Buddhist studies from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.[4]

Sudarat is married to Mr. Somyos Leelapunyalert, who is a real estate entrepreneur. They have 3 children whose names are Phumphat, Peeraphat, and Yossuda.

Political work

Sudarat began her political career as part of the Palang Dharma Party, being elected an MP for Bangkok's District 12 in the election of March 1992. She was reelected in September of the same year and was appointed deputy government spokesperson for Chuan Leekpai’s Government.

In 1994, Sudarat was appointed Secretary-General of the Palang Dharma Party and was also appointed Deputy Minister of Transport.

In the 1995 Election, Sudarat was re-elected MP and was appointed Deputy Minister of Interior in Banharn Silpa-archa’s Government.

In 1996, Sudarat was once again elected MP and was the only member to be elected from Palang Dharma.

Two years later, in 1998, Sudarat co-founded the Thai Rak Thai Party together with Thaksin Shinawatra and 21 others, including Somkid Jatusripitak, Thanong Bidaya, Purachai Piumsombun, Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya, and Prommin Lertsuridej. Sudarat was appointed Deputy Leader of Thai Rak Thai

In the 2001 election, Sudarat was elected a Member of Parliament and was appointed Minister of Public Health on February 17, 2001 under the Thaksin government. She was involved in a long-running scandal over the purchase of overpriced computers for hospitals by the Ministry of Public Health.[5]

The 2006 election saw her party win over 61% of the vote, becoming the largest party, and Sudarat was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. She lost her position following the September 2006 coup.

As one of 111 executive members of the TRT, she was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d'état.[6]

Sudarat later returned to Thai politics, contesting the 2019 election as a party-list MP and prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party. However, although the party won the most constituency seats, it did not win any party-list seats.[7]

Notable awards and honors
  • 1996 - Thailand Tatler Award “Most talked about personality of the year”
  • 1997 – Notable Alumni Awards from Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy from Chulalongkorn University
  • 2003 – Tobacco-Free World Award from WHO
  • 2003 – Mental Health Princess Award in supporting Mental health from Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana
  • 2014 – World Buddhist Outstanding Leader Award from World Fellowship of Buddhists
  • 2015 – Asoka Pilla Trophy Religion Leader from The Association of Distinguished Contributors to Buddhism of Thailand[8][9]

Royal decorations

1996 Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand[3]

1999 Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant[3]

2005 Member of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao[3]

2005 Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn[3]

References
  1. "ABCD" (PDF). Ratchakitcha.soc.go.th. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. "Viroj elected Pheu Thai leader, Phumtham secretary-general". Bangkok Post. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  3. "The secretariat of the Cabinet". Soc.go.th. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. "คุณหญิงหน่อยจบ"ดร.มจร."รับปริญญาบัตรประทานโดยสมเด็จพระสังฆราช12พ.ค.นี้". Posttoday.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "การกลับมาของบ้านเลขที่ 111 ไม่มีอะไรเปลี่ยนแปลงที่ "หลังฉาก"". Siam Intelligence. 5 June 2012.
  7. Election Commission of Thailand (8 May 2019). "กกต.ประกาศผลการเลือกตั้งสมาชิกสภาผู้แทนราษฎรแบบบัญชีรายชื่อ" (PDF). Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  8. "ABOUT SUDARAT". Sudarat. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. "สำนักควบคุมการบริโภคยาสูบ". btc.ddc.moph.go.th. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
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