The president of the National Assembly (, , ) is the presiding officer (speaker) of the National Assembly of Thailand. Since 1992, the office has been an ex officio position occupied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand. The president is therefore an MP, usually from the majority party in the House of Representatives. The president is elected at the beginning of a House session immediately after an election, there are no term limits for the office. In the aftermath of the coup d'état in 2014, the function of legislative assembly was turned over to the junta-controlled National Legislative Assembly, which Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the National Legislative Assembly, occupied the ex officio position of President of the National Assembly until the election of Wan Muhamad Noor Matha as Speaker of the House in 2023.
The office of the president of the National Assembly was first established in 1932, with the establishment of the first legislature of Thailand. The office of the president of the People's Assembly of Siam was first occupied by Chaophraya Thammasakmontri (Sanan Thephasadin na Ayutthaya).
Powers and functions As president The president of the National Assembly, apart from being the presiding officer of the National Assembly whenever there is a joint-sitting, is also the chief representative and leader of the legislative branch in Thailand. In the 2017 constitution the president of the National Assembly is given many powers. The President is assisted by the Vice President of the National Assembly, another ex officio position occupied by the president of the Senate. Countersign the King's appointment and removal of the president of the Privy Council and Regent of Thailand. Countersign the Royal Command for the amendment of the 1924 Palace Law of Succession. Inviting the Heir to ascend the Throne. Ensure all votes in the Assembly is recorded. Asking the Monarch to convoke an extraordinary session of the Assembly.
As speaker The speaker of the House of Representatives is the chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The speaker is also entrusted with some legislative powers, as it is his main role to ensure all the legislative process is followed. The speaker is assisted by two Deputy Speakers. The Speaker must act impartially on all matters and therefore cannot be a member of an executive committee of a political party, this also apply to his deputies. Filling a vacancy of a Party list MP, by submitting a name on the list for publication in the Royal Gazette. Submitting to the King the name of the Prime Minister-elect to be formally appointed, then countersigning it. Countersign the King's appointment of the Leader of the Opposition. Be an ex officio member of the Selection committee for: Constitutional Court Judges Election Commissioners Ombudsmen National Anti-Corruption Commissioners
List of presidents Note: According to the 2007 Constitution of Thailand the office of President of the National Assembly of Thailand is held as an ex officio position by the speaker of the House of Representatives. However throughout Thailand's long constitutional history this has not always been the case, at certain times the office of 'President' of the legislature was sometimes held by the presiding officer of the upper house or that of a unicameral chamber.
No. Portrait Name Term of office Party Position 1Chaophraya Thammasakmontriเจ้าพระยาธรรมศักดิ์มนตรี(1877–1943)28 June19321 September1932IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly2Chaophraya Phichaiyatเจ้าพระยาพิชัยญาติ(1875–1946)2 September193210 December1933IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly(1)Chaophraya Thammasakmontriเจ้าพระยาธรรมศักดิ์มนตรี(1877–1943)15 December193326 February1934IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly3 Phraya Sorayuthaseniพระยาศรยุทธเสนี(1888–1962)26 February193422 September1934People'sPresident of the People's Assembly4Chaophraya Sri Thammathibetเจ้าพระยาศรีธรรมาธิเบศ(1885–1976)22 September193431 July1936IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly5Phraya Manwaratchasewiพระยามานวราชเสวี(1890–1984)3 August193624 June1943IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly(3) Phraya Sorayuthaseniพระยาศรยุทธเสนี(1888–1962)6 July194324 June1944People'sPresident of the People's Assembly(5)Phraya Manwaratchasewiพระยามานวราชเสวี(1890–1984)2 July19449 May1946IndependentPresident of the People's Assembly6Vilas Osathanonวิลาศ โอสถานนท์(1899–1997)4 June194624 August1946People'sPresident of the Senate(3) Phraya Sorayuthaseniพระยาศรยุทธเสนี(1888–1962)31 August19469 November1947People'sPresident of the Senate(4)Chaophraya Sri Thammathibetเจ้าพระยาศรีธรรมาธิเบศ(1885–1976)26 November194729 November1951IndependentPresident of the Senate7 Phra Prachonpachanukพระประจนปัจจนึก(1892–1970)1 December195116 September1957IndependentSpeaker of the House of Representatives8 Luang Sutthisanronnakonหลวงสุทธิสารรณกร(1901–1968)20 September195714 December1957IndependentSpeaker of the House of Representatives(7) Phra Prachonpachanukพระประจนปัจจนึก(1892–1970)27 December195720 October1958IndependentSpeaker of the House of Representatives(8) Luang Sutthisanronnakonหลวงสุทธิสารรณกร(1901–1968)6 February19592 May1968IndependentPresident of the Constitution Drafting Assembly9Thawi Bunyaketทวี บุณยเกตุ(1904–1971)8 May196820 June1968IndependentPresident of the Constitution Drafting Assembly10 Nai Vorkarnbanchaนายวรการบัญชา(1903–1974)22 July196817 November1971IndependentPresident of the Senate11 Siri Siriyothinศิริ สิริโยธิน(1915–1979)18 December197211 December1973IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly12Kukrit Pramojคึกฤทธิ์ ปราโมช(1911–1995)29 December19737 October1974IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly13Praphas Ouchaiประภาศน์ อวยชัย(1924–2017)17 October197425 January1975IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly14 Prasit Kanchanawatประสิทธิ์ กาญจนวัฒน์(1915–1999)7 February197512 January1976Social NationalistSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Chitti Tingsabadhจิตติ ติงศภัทิย์(1908–1995)Acting12 January197619 April1976IndependentPresident of the Senate15Uthai Pimjaichonอุทัย พิมพ์ใจชน(born 1938)19 April19766 October1976DemocratSpeaker of the House of Representatives16 Kamol Dechatungkaกมล เดชะตุงคะ(1917–2002)22 October197620 November1976IndependentPresident of the National Administrative Reform Council17Harin Hongsakulหะริน หงสกุล(1914–2008)28 November197620 October1977IndependentPresident of the National Administrative Reform Council25 November197720 April1979President of the National Legislative Assembly9 May197919 March1983President of the Senate18 Charubud Ruengsuwanจารุบุตร เรืองสุวรรณ(1920–1984)26 April198319 March1984IndependentPresident of the Senate—Uthai Pimjaichonอุทัย พิมพ์ใจชน(born 1938)Acting19 March198430 April1984ProgressSpeaker of the House of Representatives19Ukrit Mongkolnavinอุกฤษ มงคลนาวิน(born 1933)30 April198421 April1989IndependentPresident of the Senate—Panja Kesornthongปัญจะ เกสรทอง(born 1946)Acting21 April19894 May1989Thai NationSpeaker of the House of Representatives20Wan Chansueวรรณ ชันซื่อ(1923–2015)4 May198923 February1991IndependentPresident of the Senate(19)Ukrit Mongkolnavinอุกฤษ มงคลนาวิน(born 1933)2 April199121 March1992IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly3 April199226 May1992President of the Senate—Arthit Ourairatอาทิตย์ อุไรรัตน์(born 1938)Acting26 May199228 June1992Justice UnitySpeaker of the House of Representatives21Meechai Ruchuphanมีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์(born 1938)28 June199229 June1992IndependentPresident of the Senate30 June199222 September199222Marut Bunnagมารุต บุนนาค(1924–2022)22 September199219 May1995DemocratSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Meechai Ruchuphanมีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์(born 1938)Acting19 May199511 July1995 IndependentPresident of the Senate23 Booneua Prasertsuwanบุญเอื้อ ประเสริฐสุวรรณ(1919–2016)11 July199527 September1996Thai NationSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Meechai Ruchuphanมีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์(born 1938)Acting27 September199624 November1996 IndependentPresident of the Senate24Wan Muhamad Noor Mathaวันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา(born 1944)24 November199627 June2000New AspirationSpeaker of the House of Representatives25Bhichai Rattakulพิชัย รัตตกุล(1924–2022)30 June20009 November2000DemocratSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Sanit Vorapanyaสนิท วรปัญญา(born 1939)Acting9 November20006 February2001 IndependentPresident of the Senate(15)Uthai Pimjaichonอุทัย พิมพ์ใจชน(born 1938)6 February20015 January2005Thai Rak ThaiSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Suchon Chaleekureสุชน ชาลีเครือ(born 1933)Acting5 January20058 March2005 IndependentPresident of the Senate26Pokin Palakulโภคิน พลกุล(born 1952)8 March200524 February2006Thai Rak ThaiSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Suchon Chaleekureสุชน ชาลีเครือ(born 1933)Acting24 February200619 September2006IndependentPresident of the Senate(21)Meechai Ruchuphanมีชัย ฤชุพันธุ์(born 1938)25 October200624 January2008IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly27Yongyuth Tiyapairatยงยุทธ ติยะไพรัช(born 1961)24 January200830 April2008People's PowerSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Prasopsuk Bundechประสพสุข บุญเดช(born 1945)Acting30 April200815 May2008IndependentPresident of the Senate28Chai Chidchobชัย ชิดชอบ(1928–2020)15 May200810 May2011People's Power(until 2008)Speaker of the House of RepresentativesBhumjaithai(from 2008)—Teeradej Meepienธีรเดช มีเพียร(born 1940)Acting10 May20113 August2011IndependentPresident of the Senate29Somsak Kiatsuranontสมศักดิ์ เกียรติสุรนนท์(born 1954)3 August20119 December2013Pheu ThaiSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Nikom Wairatpanijนิคม ไวยรัชพานิช(born 1947)Acting9 December201320 March2014IndependentPresident of the Senate—Surachai Leangboonleodchaiสุรชัย เลี้ยงบุญเลิศชัย(born 1953)Acting21 March201424 May2014IndependentActing President of the Senate30Pornpetch Wichitcholchaiพรเพชร วิชิตชลชัย(born 1948)17 August201421 May2019IndependentPresident of the National Legislative Assembly31Chuan Leekpaiชวน หลีกภัย(born 1938)28 May201920 March2023DemocratSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Pornpetch Wichitcholchaiพรเพชร วิชิตชลชัย(born 1948)Acting20 March20235 July2023IndependentPresident of the Senate(24)Wan Muhamad Noor Mathaวันมูหะมัดนอร์ มะทา(born 1944)5 July202312 December2025PrachachatSpeaker of the House of Representatives—Mongkol Surasajjaมงคล สุระสัจจะ(born 1952)Acting12 December202516 March2026IndependentPresident of the Senate32Sophon Saramโสภณ ซารัมย์ (born 1959)16 March2026IncumbentBhumjaithaiSpeaker of the House of Representatives
See also National Assembly of Thailand Senate of Thailand House of Representatives of Thailand List of presidents of the Senate of Thailand List of speakers of the House of Representatives of Thailand Notes
References
Parliament of Thailand https://web.archive.org/web/20080629062600/http://phetchaburi.ect.go.th/news/1.1.1.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080618030359/http://www.rakbankerd.com/01_jam/thaiinfor/country_info/index.html?topic_id=87&db_file= http://rulers.org/thaigov.html