Bhumjaithai Party (BJT; ; , ) is a major conservative populist political party in Thailand. It was founded on 5 November 2008, in anticipation of the 2 December 2008 Constitutional Court ruling that dissolved its de facto predecessor, the Neutral Democratic Party (PMT), along with the People's Power Party (PPP) and the Thai Nation Party. After those dissolutions, former members of the PMT and the Friends of Newin Group (KPW) faction of the PPP switched to this party. It currently heads a majority government.
Bhumjaithai has a populist platform, with some policies drawn from Thaksin Shinawatra's populist Thai Rak Thai party and its second incarnation, the PPP. The party has a strong base in Buriram Province.
History
On 15 December 2008, the party endorsed the Democrat Party, forming a six-party coalition government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The party's "de facto" leader and power broker behind joining the Democrat-led coalition is Newin Chidchob. Due to his role as an executive of the PPP predecessor party, the Thai Rak Thai party, which was dissolved in 2007, he became ineligible to be a party member for five years. It is alleged that army commander and co-leader of the 2006 coup, general Anupong Paochinda, coerced the MPs of the Friends of Newin Group faction in the PPP to endorse a Democrat Party-led coalition. This secured enough parliamentary votes to allow Abhisit to be elected prime minister. Bhumjaithai was the second largest coalition partner in the Abhisit government, supplying the ministers of Transport, Commerce, and Interior (Chavarat Charnvirakul), and four deputy ministers.
For the general election on 3 July 2011, Bhumjaithai forged an alliance with coalition partner Chartthaipattana Party. The party aimed at winning as many as 111 seats in the new parliament. During the campaign, a main BJT canvasser, Suban Chiraphanwanit, was shot dead. Eventually, BJT won 34 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, which observers have interpreted as disappointing. Subsequently, the party's Matchima-faction, led by Somsak Thepsuthin, tried to join the Pheu-Thai-led coalition government of Prime Minister-designate Yingluck Shinawatra, despite the party's ruling out cooperation with Pheu Thai before the elections. The Pheu Thai Party rejected the participation of BJT members.
On 14 October 2012, Anuthin Charnvirakul was elected the new leader of the Bhumjaithai Party during the party's general assembly to elect a new 11-member executive committee. He replaced his father Chavarat Charnvirakul, who had resigned. Also elected were Saksayam Chidchob as the new secretary-general, Nathee Ratchakijprakarn as treasurer, Sora-ath Klinprathum as an executive committee member and party advisory chairman, and Supamas Issarapakdi as party spokeswoman.
2025
On 18 June 2025 the Bhumjaithai Party announced its withdrawal from Thailand's ruling coalition government led by the Pheu Thai Party. This decision followed the leak of a phone conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, which raised concerns about national sovereignty amid ongoing border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. In a statement by the Bhumjaithai party, all party ministers have submitted their resignations to the prime minister, effective 19 June.
Ideology Bhumjaithai Party combines elements of conservatism, populism, and economic liberalism in its policy platform. The party's approach to governance is characterised by welfare-oriented developmental policies while maintaining traditional conservative values, particularly regarding the monarchy.
Bhumjaithai Party Prime Ministers Name Portrait Start Date End Date Election Anutin Charnvirakul 7 September 2025(first term)19 March 2026(second term) Incumbent — (26th)2026 (27th)
Bhumjaithai Party Speaker Name Portrait Start Date End Date Election Sophon Saram 16 March 2026 Incumbent 2026 (27th)
Election results General elections Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votesSeat change Outcome of election Election leader2011 1,281,652 10.62%2 seats Chavarat Charnvirakul2014 Election Nullified (Ruled as Unconstitutional)Anutin Charnvirakul2019 3,732,883 10.33%17 seats 2023 1,138,202 13.99%20 seats 20265,964,81418.07%121 seats
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration elections
Bangkok Metropolitan Council elections Election Total seats won Total votes Share of votes Outcome of election2022 19,789 0.85% No members in Bangkok Metropolitan Council2026 - -%TBA
See also Neutral Democratic Party Friends of Newin Group List of political parties in Thailand
References
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