Surapong Tovichakchaikul

Surapong Tovichakchaikul (1 May 1953 – 20 May 2020) was a Thai politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand from 2011 to 2014.[2][3][4] He used to be party-list MP and Pheu Thai Party deputy leader.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul
สุรพงษ์ โตวิจักษณ์ชัยกุล

MPCh MWM
Surapong Tovichakchaikul in 2011
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office
28 October 2012 – 7 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
9 August 2011 – 7 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Preceded byKasit Piromya
Succeeded byThanasak Patimaprakorn
Personal details
Born(1953-05-01)1 May 1953
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Died20 May 2020(2020-05-20) (aged 67)
Bangkok, Thailand
Political partyPheu Thai Party
Spouse(s)Anchalee Tovichakchaikul (div.)
RelationsThaksin Shinawatra (cousin in-law)
ChildrenNuttapong Tovichakchaikul
Supisara Tovichakchaikul
Alma materMontfort College
Khon Kaen University
Youngstown State University
University of Akron (Ph.D.)[1]
ProfessionPolitician
Engineer
Signature

Early life

Surapong Tovichakchaikul was born on 1 May 1953 at Chiang Mai Province. He was Thaksin Shinwatra's cousin in-law because Sumalee Tovichakchaikul (Surapong's aunt) was married to Satien Shinawatra, Thaksin's uncle.[5] Surapong has 2 children: Nuttapong Tovichakchaikul and Supisara Tovichakchaikul. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering from Khon Kaen University.

Entry into politics

Surapong entered politics when he was elected as the MP for Chiang Mai Province on behalf of the Democrat Party in the 1996 general election. He was also elected Democrat Party executive. In the 2001 general election, he was an MP candidate for the same party but lost to Pakorn Buranupakorn from Thai Rak Thai Party. In 2005 general election, he was a 41st party-list MP candidate for Democrat Party but was not elected. When he was a Democrat Party member, Surapong played an important role in criticizing Thaksin Shinawatra.

Later, Surapong moved to join the Thai Rak Thai Party in 2006. After the 2006 coup d'état the Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved and he and most of the former Thai Rak Thai Party members joined the People's Power Party. He was elected as MP for Chiang Mai Province again in the 2007 general election on behalf of the People's Power Party under the leadership of Samak Sundaravej.

In 2009, Surapong was among United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship supporters who signed petition for Thaksin's amnesty. Later, Surapong joined the Pheu Thai Party and was appointed deputy leader of the party in September 2010. In the 2011 general election, he was elected as 20th party-list MP for Pheu Thai Party and was appointed  Minister of Foreign Affairs in Yingluck Shinawatra's government. Later, Surapong was also appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. The Yingluck government was ousted in a coup d'état on 22 May 2014.

Death

Surapong died on 20 May 2020 of liver cancer[6] at Siriraj Hospital. He was 67.[7][8][9][10]

Royal decorations

Surapong received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

References
  1. "เปิดประวัติ "สุรพงษ์ โตวิจักษณ์ชัยกุล"". pptvhd36.com.
  2. "Remarks With Thai Foreign Minister Dr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul Before Their Meeting". US Department of State. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  3. "Foreign Secretary meets with Foreign Minister of Thailand". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  4. "Thailand - Heads of Government Listing". Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  5. Piyanart Srivalo, Naya Jaikawang, Hassaya Chartmontree Govt review to take more than two months, 19 August 2009, The Nation (newspaper)
  6. "Former foreign minister Surapong dies of cancer". Bangkok Post. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. "นิพิฏฐ์ ย้อนความหลัง กับ "สุรพงษ์" ขออโหสิกรรม หลังทราบข่าวเสียชีวิต". www.thairath.co.th. 20 May 2020.
  8. "สุรพงษ์ โตวิจักษณ์ชัยกุล เสียชีวิต อดีตรัฐมนตรีสมัยยิ่งลักษณ์จากโลกแล้ว ด้วยวัย 67 ปี". www.sanook.com/news.
  9. ""เสี่ยปึ้ง-สุรพงษ์ โตวิจักษณ์ชัยกุล" เสียชีวิตในวัย 67 หลังป่วยมะเร็งตับ". www.thairath.co.th. 20 May 2020.
  10. "ผู้จัดการออนไลน์ Lite version ข่าวอัพเดท ข่าวยอดนิยม ทันเหตุการณ์". mgronline.com.
  11. "ประกาศสํานักนายกรัฐมนตรี" [Announcement of the Office of the Prime Minister] (PDF) (in Thai). 4 December 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  12. (PDF) http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2554/B/024/1.PDF. Retrieved 21 May 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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