Banyat Bantadtan (林書清) ( th, บัญญัติ บรรทัดฐาน; , born 15 May 1942) is a Thai politician. From 2003 to 2005, he was the chairman of the
Democrat Party and
Leader of the Opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
against Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra.
Life and career
Banyat Bantadtan was born in
Kanchanadit,
Surat Thani Province. A lawyer by training, he holds a Bachelor of Laws from the
Faculty of Law, Thammasat University. In 1970, he became a lecturer for the Office of Accelerated Rural Development (ARD). In 1975, he was elected
Member of Parliament for the first time. He was consistently re-elected in all subsequent elections until 2007.
Banyat was spokesman of the Democrat Party from 1979 to 1980. He was a cabinet member in the governments of General
Prem Tinsulanonda, as deputy interior minister from 1980 to 1983, Minister in the Office of Prime Minister from 1983 to 1986, and as Minister of Science from 1986 to 1988. Under his fellow party member Prime Minister
Chuan Leekpai, Banyat was Deputy Prime Minister from 1992 to 1995 and again in 2000, when he additionally led the Ministry of Interior.
Democrat Party career
In 2003, he succeeded Chuan as chairman of the Democrat Party and became official Leader of the Opposition. He stepped back after the
electoral setback in 2005. The
Thai Rak Thai Party
The Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT; th, พรรคไทยรักไทย, , ; "Thais Love Thais Party") was a Thai political party founded in 1998. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under its founder, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawat ...
of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra had won the election by a landslide. The party chose
Abhisit Vejjajiva as his successor.
Personal life
Banyat was married to Somnuk Boonchu and they had one child, then were divorced. After the divorce he married Jittima Sangkasap ( th, จิตติมา สังขะทรัพย์) ex-wife of
Pongpol Adireksarn
Pongpol Adireksarn ( th, ปองพล อดิเรกสาร, pen name Paul Adirex; born March 23, 1942) is a Thai novelist, documentarist and former politician.
Early life and education
Pongpol's father, Pramarn Adireksarn, was a Major ...
. They have two children.
Honours
* 1982 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble
Order of the Crown of Thailand
* 1983 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted
Order of the White Elephantแจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ (เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ชั้นสายสะพาย)
เล่ม ๑๐๐ ตอน ๒๐๗ ฉบับพิเศษ ๓๑ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๒๖
References
External links
Thai PM's party win by landslide - TV exit poll
Thai Opposition Warns of Dictatorship in Thailand
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bantadtan, Banyat
Living people
Hainanese people
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
Banyat Bantadtan
1942 births