Social Action Party
The Social Action Party (SAP, also: Party of Social Action, Thai พรรค กิจสังคม - [p ʰ ʰ ák kìtsǎŋk OM ] ) is a political party in Thailand. It was founded in 1974 by Kukrit Pramoj, had a moderate and reformist orientation. 1975 to 1976 she led the government. In the elections of 1979 and 1983 she was indeed the strongest force, but had to leave the military governance. From the mid- 1980s, their influence has continuously decreased. Since 2001 she is politically almost meaningless.
Political point of view
The Social Action Party can be described as liberal-conservative party. It was considered progressive in the 1970s and mostly placed slightly left of center on the political spectrum. End of the 80s it was then considered the most liberal market- oriented party in Thailand and has been classified as moderate center-right party.
History
Establishment and governance ( 1974-76 )
Founded as the Social Action Party in 1974 by the royalist politicians Kukrit Pramoj ( 1911-1995 ), with the support of a circle of reform-oriented bankers to the CEO of Bangkok Bank, Boonchu Rojanastien. With the concept of a socially oriented and caring capitalism, they wanted the increasingly radical political mood after the democratic popular uprising in 1973 calm. Their model was the People's Action Party in Singapore. In the first free elections after 25 years of military dictatorship in January 1975, she was fourth strongest force. She succeeded, however, a coalition of several parties, including the right, military-related parties Tham Sangkhom form ( "Social Justice " ) and Chart Thai Party. This Kukrit became Prime Minister.
The SAP pursued an ambitious reform program with the objective of rural development and poverty reduction. It went on for higher minimum wages, full employment within five years, an end to inflation, public housing and free bus services for the poor. The core of the reform projects of SAP were the Tambon funds. The municipal councils of Tambon own funds should be made available, from which they should even pay for the construction of transport facilities, irrigation canals and wells, repair and extension of school buildings and health centers. Through this public construction projects farmers should get employment opportunities in the dry season. At the same time, the project was aimed at decentralization of policy-making from the local level. 1975 poured from the program 2.5 billion, 3.4 billion baht in 1976. In line with the SAP wanted to introduce elections at the municipal level. Elected officials should replace government-appointed representatives. However, this was not implemented because the broke in January 1976, the coalition government because of disputes between the parties and Kukrit elections triggered. The SAP also gained some seats and became the third strongest party. This time, however, managed the Democratic Party to form a coalition and Kukrits brother Seni Pramoj was head of government. The SAP went into opposition.
Opposition and junior partner in the government ( 1976-90 )
After the massacre at Thammasat University on 6 October 1976, and the renewed power of the military, all parties were temporarily banned. In 1977, she was again allowed and the SAP business opposition politics against the military backed government of General Kriangsak Chomanand. Before the elections in 1979 she was particularly critical of the economic incompetence of the government Kriangsak that made them responsible for the strong increase in the inflation. The SAP was strongest in this election by a large margin strength. Since the election of the Prime Minister, however, next to the House of Representatives elected mitstimmte also appointed by the military senate, Kriangsak was confirmed in office. 1980 triggered Gen Prem Tinsulanonda Kriangsak from as head of government. He took the SAP on in his government coalition. She supported so Prem's system of "semi - democracy ". Kukrit Pramoj came in December 1985 from his post as chairman of the party back, and Foreign Minister Siddhi Savetsila took office.
Internal conflicts over an alleged clandestine support of the party by General Arthit Kamlang -ek led to serious loss of votes in the elections in 1986. Prior to May 1986, a faction split among Boontheng Thongsawasdi with the help of influential business leaders and founded the United Democracy Party (United Democracy Party ), which was not successful. The SAP was increasingly becoming a political vehicle for business people from the province, so-called "influential persons " and " Godfather ". So Montri Pongpanich was from the province of Ayutthaya in 1988 Secretary General of the party. Corruption scandals were more and more lowered the prestige of the party. In the fall of 1990, Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan threatened to throw the party out of the coalition government. Siddhi Savetsila gave annoyance to the party presidency and retired from politics. Kukrit was asked Siddhi replace as party leader and Foreign Minister shortly. But since Chatichai had previously been under his hand Kukrit Foreign Minister, he decided not to exclude the party from the coalition.
Decline, dissolution and revival attempt (since 1990)
After a brief interlude with Kukrit to the party leadership of the former Secretary General Montri Pongpanich became party chairman. He was among the politicians whose assets the military junta in 1991 confiscated because they had become " unusually rich ". In December 1990, the Social Action Party, he finally retired from the government Chatichai Choonhavans and only returned in April 1992 under General Suchinda Kraprayoon the cabinet back. In the confrontation between military -based government and democracy movement, the SAP was therefore counted among the " devil - parties " before the Thai press. In June of the same year, the ministers, however, the pro- military coalition left again.
The SAP was represented as a junior partner in the coalition government of Chuan Leekpai 1992-1993, as well as in those of Banharn Silpa - archa ( 1995-96 ) and Chavalit Yongchaiyudh ( 1996-97). In 1997 she joined the camp and helped back the Democratic Party of Chuan Leekpai to a majority. 1998 Montri resigned after a corruption scandal in the Ministry of Health led by him as party chairman. He first followed his father Boonpan Kaewattana after 1999 then Suwit Khunkitti. In 1999, a renewed power struggle in the party, which led to a split and to withdraw from the government Chuan Leekpai. 17 MPs were so out of the government coalition. Until 2001, the party had lost much of its political support. The 2001 elections left her only a single seat in parliament. Many members, including former party leader Suwit Khunkitti went to the Thai Rak Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. 2003, the party was dissolved.
After returning Suwits - as a result of the forced dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai party - the Social Action Party in 2008 was revived. Suwit was from 2008 to 2011 Member of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. In the parliamentary elections in Thailand 2011, the Social Action Party won 0.3 % of the list votes and no seat