Former Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikua has been appointed advisor to the Prime Minister, a year after he pledged not to engage with the Pheu Thai Party following its coalition with military-backed parties.

Several Thai news outlets on Monday (7 October) reported that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had appointed two additional advisors: former Permanent Secretary to the PM’s Office Teerapong Wongsiwawilas and former Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikua.

The last name has sparked an outcry among the general public as Nattawut announced in August 2023 that he had ended his role with the Pheu Thai Party because the party had formed a coalition with military-backed parties. At the time, he was a director of the Pheu Thai family, a group of networks linked to the party which includes its key figures, party members, and supporters. He said he would no longer be involved with Pheu Thai.

Nattawut, known for his role as both a politician and protest leader, has had a long-standing relationship with the Party for over 20 years. He was an MP of the Pheu Thai predecessor Thai Rak Thai under former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, and he was also a co-founder of the Red Shirt movement, which was formed to oppose the military coup in 2006.

On Tuesday (8 August), Nattawut admitted on Sorayuth Suthassanachinda’s live programme that he had broken his promise. He stated that politics is about the distribution of power, and he could not do much beyond respond to the situation before him. He also revealed that former PM Srettha Thavisin asked for his help during his time as PM, and Nattawut agreed, but Srettha was later dismissed by the Constitutional Court, so he never got the chance to fulfil that promise.

The newly appointed PM’s advisor added that after the dismissal of Srettha, he foresaw that the current government would likely face political challenges. At the same time, he also has unfinished tasks, and senior figures in the party and Paetongtarn herself need him to be back. However, he insisted that this did not imply that the government is in trouble, noting that being PM is a daunting and complicated task, requiring several people to work together, and he is one of these people.

The Paetongtarn administration has been closely watched since her first day as the new PM, so every step she takes cannot escape the watchful eyes of critics. There are also numerous petitions pending at the Election Commission, waiting for opponents to use them against her administration. Nattawut’s appointment makes another.

On the day after she appointed her advisors, Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a former Palang Pracharath party-list MP who has filed several complaints against politicians, submitted a petition with the Election Commission, requesting the EC to determine whether Paetongtarn violated ethical conduct by appointing people with a prior criminal conviction as advisors, an issue similar to the charge that brought down her predecessor. The petition concerned Surapong Suebwonglee and Nattawut.

Surapong was sentenced to 1 year in prison in 2016 after he was found guilty of wrongful exercise of his duty by authorising the amendment of a concession to allow Shin Corp to reduce its minimum shareholding in its satellite affiliate Shin Satellite, later renamed Thaicom, from at least 51% to 40%. Meanwhile, Nattawut was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison over a violent protest outside the Si Sao Thewes residence of Prem Tinsulanonda, the late Privy Council President, in 2007. 

Appointment document