Trairong Suwankiri

Trairong Suwankiri MPCh MWM
ไตรรงค์ สุวรรณคีรี
Trairong Suwankiri at a state dinner in 2010
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 15 January 2010 – 9 August 2011
Prime Minister	Abhisit Vejjajiva
In office 9 July 1999 – 9 November 2000
Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai
Minister of Labour and Social Services
In office 14 November 1997 – 4 October 1998
Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai
Preceded by	Montri Dan-paiboon
Succeeded by	Sompong Amornwiwat
Minister of Industry
In office 29 September 1992 – 13 December 1995
Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai
Preceded by	Sanan Kachornprasart
Succeeded by	Chaiwat Sinsuwong
Personal details
Born	(1944-06-24) 24 June 1944 (age 77) Songkhla, Thailand
Nationality	Thai
Political party	Democrat Party
Spouse(s)	Nut Suwankiri
Alma mater	Thammasat University University of Hawaii (Ph.D.)[1]
Profession	Politician university lecturer economist

Trairong Suwankiri (Thai: ไตรรงค์ สุวรรณคีรี; born June 24, 1944 in Songkhla) is a Thai politician (Democrat Party). He was deputy prime minister^[2] in the cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva, and vice leader of the Democrats.

Educations[]

Trairong holds a master's degree and a Doctoral degree in Economics of the University of Hawaii.^[3]

Careers[]

Trairong Suwankiri has started his career as private secretary to Professor Puey Ungpakorn, at this time prominent rector of the Thammasat University. In this function he had to witness the Thammasat University massacre of 6 October 1976.

In 1986 Trairong was for the first time elected to the House of Representatives on the Democrat Party list.^[3] Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda appointed him government spokesman. From 1988 to 1991 he was deputy minister of Interior in the administration of Chatichai Choonhavan and from 1992 to 1994 deputy minister of Finance under the first premiership of Chuan Leekpai.^[3]

He has served as Minister of Industry from 1994 to 1995 in Chuan's first, Minister of Labour from 1997 to 1998 and Deputy Prime Minister in 1999, in his second cabinet.^[3] 2005 he was elected vice president of the Democrat Party. From 15 January 2010 to 9 August 2011, he was one of three deputy prime ministers under Abhisit Vejjajiva and in charge of economic affairs.

In parliament and public he is known for his jokes and his heavy Southern accent.

Trairong means tricolour and is the name of the Thai national flag.

Royal decorations[]

Trairong Suwankiri is decorated with the highest class (Knight Grand Cordon) of both the Order of the White Elephant and the Order of the Crown of Thailand.^[3]

Academic rank[]

• Assistant Professor^[4]

References[]