Wannarat Channukul
Encyclopedia
Wannarat Channukul is a Thai
physician and politician. He is the leader of the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party and Minister of Energy in the cabinets of Abhisit Vejjajiva
and Yingluck Shinawatra
.
Wannarat Channukul studied Medicine at the Chulalongkorn University
, graduating with an M.D., and Law at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
, graduating with an LL.B. He continued his education at the University of Hawaii
, receiving a Master of Public Health
degree. Subsequently, he worked as a doctor at the Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.
In 1992, Wannarat was elected to the parliament to represent Nakhon Ratchasima Province
and the National Development Party
. He was five times re-elected. From 2004 to 2007 he belonged to the Thai Rak Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
, until the government was overthrown by the military and the Constitutional Court banned the party. Wannarat's political faction merged with the Thais United
party to form the Thais United National Development Party. He became Minister for Energy in Somchai Wongsawat
's government for three months, until the minor parties broke their coalition with the People's Power Party
and elected Abhisit Vejjajiva
to be Prime Minister. Nevertheless, Wannarat stayed in office. Before the 2011 general election, he merged his United National Development Party with the Puea Pandin Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party, which he now chairs.
After the 2011 election, Wannarat Channukul led the party into coalition with the successful Pheu Thai Party and was appointed Minister of Industry
in Yingluck Shinawatra
's cabinet on 9 August 2011.
Wannarat is married to Temsiri Channukul, who is a high school teacher, and the sister of Lt. Poonpirom Liptapanlop, Wannarat's predecessor as Minister of Energy. Poonpirom again, is married to Suwat Liptapanlop, who is a Chart Pattana Puea Pandin politician as well. Wannarat and Temsiri Channukul have one son.
Dr. Wannarat Channukul has been decorated with the special class of both the Order of the White Elephant
and the Order of the Crown of Thailand.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
physician and politician. He is the leader of the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party and Minister of Energy in the cabinets of Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
and Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra , or nickname Pu , is a Thai businesswoman and politician, member of the Pheu Thai Party, and the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand following the 2011 general election...
.
Wannarat Channukul studied Medicine at the Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is the country's highest ranked university. It now has nineteen faculties and institutes. Regarded as the best and most selective university in Thailand, it consistently attracts top students from around the country...
, graduating with an M.D., and Law at the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University or STOU is one of the two open universities in Thailand.-History:...
, graduating with an LL.B. He continued his education at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, receiving a Master of Public Health
Professional degrees of public health
The Master of Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health are multi-disciplinary professional degrees awarded for studies in areas related to public health....
degree. Subsequently, he worked as a doctor at the Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.
In 1992, Wannarat was elected to the parliament to represent Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima or , often shortened to Korat or Khorat , is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand...
and the National Development Party
National Development Party (Thailand)
The National Development Party is a Thai political party. In September 2007, it was announced that it merged with Thais United to form a joint party provisionally known as Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana....
. He was five times re-elected. From 2004 to 2007 he belonged to the Thai Rak Thai Party of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
, until the government was overthrown by the military and the Constitutional Court banned the party. Wannarat's political faction merged with the Thais United
Thais United
Thais United was a political party in Thailand founded on 26 June 2007. Its members included many well-known politicians, among them former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak , former Democrat Party secretary-general Pradit Pattaraprasit, former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul, former...
party to form the Thais United National Development Party. He became Minister for Energy in Somchai Wongsawat
Somchai Wongsawat
Somchai Wongsawat is a Thai politician, as well as former executive member of the People's Power Party whose political rights have been disfranchised by the Constitutional Court for five years....
's government for three months, until the minor parties broke their coalition with the People's Power Party
People's Power Party (Thailand)
The People's Power Party was a Thai political party founded on November 9, 1998 by Police Lieutenant Colonel Garn Tienkaew. The party leader was Somchai Wongsawat, the Party Secretary General was Surapong Suebwonglee, and the Party Spokesperson was Kuthep Saikrajarng...
and elected Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva
Abhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
to be Prime Minister. Nevertheless, Wannarat stayed in office. Before the 2011 general election, he merged his United National Development Party with the Puea Pandin Party to form the Chart Pattana Puea Pandin Party, which he now chairs.
After the 2011 election, Wannarat Channukul led the party into coalition with the successful Pheu Thai Party and was appointed Minister of Industry
Ministry of Industry (Thailand)
The Ministry of Industry of the Kingdom of Thailand is a Cabinet ministry in the Government of Thailand. The Ministry is responsible for the promotion and regulation of Industries...
in Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra
Yingluck Shinawatra , or nickname Pu , is a Thai businesswoman and politician, member of the Pheu Thai Party, and the 28th Prime Minister of Thailand following the 2011 general election...
's cabinet on 9 August 2011.
Wannarat is married to Temsiri Channukul, who is a high school teacher, and the sister of Lt. Poonpirom Liptapanlop, Wannarat's predecessor as Minister of Energy. Poonpirom again, is married to Suwat Liptapanlop, who is a Chart Pattana Puea Pandin politician as well. Wannarat and Temsiri Channukul have one son.
Dr. Wannarat Channukul has been decorated with the special class of both the Order of the White Elephant
Order of the White Elephant
The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant is the most awarded order of Thailand. It was established in 1861 by King Rama IV of the Kingdom of Siam.The Order consists of eight classes:...
and the Order of the Crown of Thailand.