Newin Chidchob
Newin Chidchob | |
|---|---|
Newin in 2024 | |
| Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister | |
| In office 2 August 2005 – 19 September 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Preceded by |
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| Succeeded by |
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| Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives | |
| In office 3 October 2002 – 2 August 2005 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Deputy Minister of Commerce | |
| In office 5 March 2002 – 3 October 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives | |
| In office 14 November 1997 – 6 January 2001 | |
| Prime Minister | Chuan Leekpai |
| Deputy Minister of Finance | |
| In office 18 July 1995 – 23 May 1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Banharn Silpa-archa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 October 1958 Surin, Thailand |
| Party | Bhumjaithai Party (2008–2012; 2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Solidarity (1988–1991) Justice Unity (1992) Thai Nation (1992–1996; 2000–2004) Unity (1996–2000) Thai Rak Thai (2004–2007) People's Power (2007–2008) |
| Spouse |
Karuna Chidchob (m. 1988) |
| Relations | Permpoon Chidchob (younger brother) Saksayam Chidchob (younger brother) |
| Children | 4, including Chaichanok |
| Parent |
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Newin Chidchob (Thai: เนวิน ชิดชอบ, born 4 October 1958) is a Thai politician from Buriram Province. As a member of several political parties, Newin and his allies eventually joined the Thai Rak Thai Party of Thaksin Shinawatra in 2005. Prior to the 2006 Thai coup d'état, he served as a member of Parliament for Buriram Province and was a Cabinet Minister with the Thai Rak Thai Party. From 2002 to 2005, he was Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
Following the 2006 Thai coup d'état and the subsequent dissolution of Thai Rak Thai for corruption, Newin and his friends, mostly members of the National Assembly from the south of Isan (the northeastern region), shifted from the ruling (now also dissolved) People Power Party (PPP) to the opposition Democrat Party during the 2008 Thai political crisis. He is the leader of the so-called "Friends of Newin Group", now known as the Bhumjaithai Party. Consequently, a Democrat Party led coalition gained the majority in the National Assembly. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party's leader, was elected by a majority of the Parliament to be the new prime minister in December 2008.
During the political tension in April 2009 caused by pro-Thaksin groups widely known as the Red Shirts, Newin publicly blasted Thaksin, his former 'boss', as the root of the political tension due to his 'doubts' of Thaksin's loyalty towards the monarchy and the current political system of the Kingdom. Previously in 2008, Newin had wept with Thaksin when the former PM kissed the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi Airport after returning to Thailand after a self-imposed exile.