Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan MPCh MWM
นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล
Niwatthamrong at WTO Ministerial Conference in 2013
Acting Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 7 May 2014 – 22 May 2014
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Yingluck Shinawatra
Succeeded by	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 30 June 2013 – 22 May 2014
Prime Minister	Yingluck Shinawatra Himself (acting)
Minister of Commerce
In office 30 June 2013 – 22 May 2014
Prime Minister	Yingluck Shinawatra Himself (acting)
Preceded by	Boonsong Teriyapirom
Succeeded by	Chatchai Sarikalya
Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
In office 18 January 2012 – 30 June 2013
Prime Minister	Yingluck Shinawatra
Preceded by	Kritsana Seehalak Surawith Konsomboon
Succeeded by	Santi Promphat
Personal details
Born	(1948-01-25) 25 January 1948 (age 76) Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	People's Power (2007–2008) Pheu Thai (2008–present)
Spouse	Boonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan
Children	2
Alma mater	Srinakharinwirot University Chulalongkorn University

Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan (Thai: นิวัฒน์ธำรง บุญทรงไพศาล, RTGS: Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, pronounced [ní.wát.tʰam.roŋ bun.soŋ.pʰaj.sǎːn] ^ⓘ; born 25 January 1948) is a Thai businessman and politician who served as the acting Prime Minister of Thailand following Yingluck Shinawatra's removal from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 7 May 2014 until his deposition in a coup d'état three weeks after taking office.^[1] Before becoming acting premier, he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, and before that managed the country's rice pledging scheme.^[2][3]

Niwatthamrong was born on 25 January 1948. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from Srinakharinwirot University and a master's degree in computer science from Chulalongkorn University and is married to Boonphatcharee Boonsongpaisan.^[1]

A close business associate of Thaksin Shinawatra, Niwatthamrong served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee-Media and Advertising front of Shin Corporation since 1995 and as Vice-Chairman since 2000.^[1] He served from 2001 to 2002 as Vice-Chairman of iTV and from 1993 to 1995, director of that company between 2002 and 2008, and a member of the board of directors between 2008 and 16 March 2010.^[1]

Niwatthamrong served as director of the controversial rice pledging scheme, where rice was bought at inflated prices from farmers and subsequently was left to rot due to lack of buyers.^[3] On 30 June 2013 he was appointed Minister of Commerce and a deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Yingluck Shinawatra.^{[citation needed]}

On 7 May 2014, Niwatthamrong became acting Prime Minister following the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several members of her cabinet from office.^[2] On 22 May 2014 he was himself removed from office following a military coup.

Niwatthamrong has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand^[4]
• Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant^[5]
• Companion (Fourth Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn^[6]