Signs Point Towards Potential Demise of United Thai Nation
The divisive United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, a symbol of ultra-right politics, is on the brink of exploding due to severe internal disputes. Some analysts predict it may implode even before the next general election, leaving its fate hanging in the balance.
Amidst the cabinet shuffle, prying the UTN's leaders Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (Energy Minister) and Akanat Promphan (Industry Minister) out of their posts is no walk in the park, the scholars contend.
Born out of rivalry, the party emerged during the tensions between two powerful military figures, affectionately known as the "Two Ps": Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, whose supporters were equally determined to see another term as premier.
Due to their clashing ambitions, Gen Prayut severed ties with the PPRP, and the UTN, created as a backup party, was instigated. Key political allies of Gen Prayut took charge: Pirapan became the party leader, and Akanat, adopted son of the veteran political figure and former Democrat Party stalwart, Suthep Thaugsuban, assumed the mantle of secretary-general.
However, with Gen Prayut retiring from politics after the UTN's electoral failure to lead the conservative bloc, the party has been left to relinquish control, teetering on the edge of collapse.
Today, the UTN displays symptoms of deep, internal fracture; UTN MPs are divided into two camps, with one led by Pirapan and the other by Suchart Chomklin, the deputy leader and deputy commerce minister.
Long-standing tensions stem from Pirapan's lack of leadership, inadequate resolution of party issues, and biased decisions. Controversies ensued, such as the Nakhon Si Thammarat disaster relief bags affair, emblazoned with Pirapan's name and ministerial title, prompting accusations of ethical misconduct. The issue led to a petition filed with the Election Commission, questioning Pirapan's constitutional adherence and alleging election law violations.
The strife escalated further after the 2026 budget debate, when Suchart signaled his intention to part ways with the party. Since then, a letter, backed by 21 UTN MPs aligned with Suchart, was sent to the Prime Minister, demanding a cabinet reshuffle and accusing ministers of incompetence and ethical lapses in the face of ongoing EC and NACC investigations. The letter warned that such shortcomings could negatively impact the government's image and public trust.
The rift between Akanat and Suchart widened with public squabbles. Akanat denied allegations of trying to oust Pirapan, while Suchart countered that it was Akanat who entertained the idea of replacing the party leader.
Experts have forecasted the UTN's impending split, with the only unanswered question being the timing and manner of the breakup. As the verbal war spirals out of control, the UTN could disintegrate during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
The mudslinging and deep internal strife have reached a critical point and threaten to push the UTN beyond repair. The turmoil leaves the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra with a tough decision: either maintaining both Pirapan's and Suchart's factions in government, distributing cabinet seats accordingly, or aligning with one side. This decision could have a direct impact on the government's stability.
According to Olarn Thinbangtieo, deputy dean of Burapha University's faculty of political science and law, the UTN's split is a structural issue, rather than a circumstantial one. Political parties are commonly formed by individuals with shared ideals but, in the case of the UTN, it was born out of conflict—a tool of the post-coup power structure.Created by military figures trying to rebrand themselves as democratic under the 2017 constitution, which was engineered to support their grip on power, the UTN attracted monopoly capitalists who saw advantages for their businesses and backed the party.
When a party is founded on mutual benefits and political bargaining, rather than shared ideals, disagreements are inevitable. Conflicts erupt when those benefits no longer align, Olarn notes, suggesting that the cracks within the UTN are likely to widen further.
With the cabinet reshuffle quickly approaching, the government is striving to preserve Pheu Thai's stability and bolster its power. Nevertheless, removing Pirapan from the cabinet presents numerous challenges. Not only does he represent the conservative base, but he also controls a massive right-wing alliance, making his removal a delicate matter. Akanat, despite the turmoil, remains popular and is tied to influential political networks, such as being the adopted son of Suthep, former leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protests instrumental in the downfall of the Pheu Thai-led administration in 2014.
In the coming days or weeks, MPs backing Suchart are likely to make a decisive move, either by officially departing from the UTN or by withholding cabinet support if their faction is sidelined. The fate of the ruling coalition—and its majority—hinges on Pheu Thai's deft calculations.
In the midst of the UTN's internal disputes, the proposed cabinet reshuffle presents a significant challenge, particularly in regards to the removal of Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga and Industry Minister Akanat Promphan. This is due to the party's complex roots in politics, war-and-conflicts, and policy-and-legislation, having been founded during the tensions between two military leaders and attracting monopoly capitalists (general-news).
As the cabinet reshuffle approaches, the impending split within the UTN, a structural issue rooted in its foundations of political bargaining rather than shared ideals, raises questions about the government's stability and the fate of the ruling coalition (politics).
