Chai Chidchob (, , ; 5 April 1928 – 24 January 2020) was

President of the National Assembly of Thailand The president of the National Assembly (, , ) is the presiding officer (speaker) of the National Assembly of Thailand. Since 1992, the office has been an ''ex officio'' position occupied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand ...

and the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 15 May 2008 to 10 May 2011.

Political career

He began his career in politics by being appointed as a ''

kamnan A ''kamnan'' () is a Thai governing official at the tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,2 ...

'' in

Buriram Province Buriram province (, , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-seven Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') and lies in Isan#Administrative divisions, lower northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) ...

and became known to locals as "Kamnan Chai". His national political career began in 1957. Chai contested a seat as a Democrat Party candidate in Surin, but failed to get elected. In 1969, he ran in

Buriram Buriram (, , ; Northern Khmer: ) is a city municipality ('' thesaban nakhon'') in Thailand, capital of Buriram Province, about northeast of Bangkok. incorporating Nai Mueang and Isan Subdistricts and parts Samet Subdistricts of Mueang Burira ...

as an independent candidate and managed to win. He was then reelected many times. In

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

Chai was elected to the

National Assembly of Thailand The Parliament of Thailand ( Abrv: NAT; , , ) is the bicameral legislative branch of the government of Thailand. It convenes in the Sappaya-Sapasathan, Dusit District, Bangkok. The Parliament was established in 1932 after the adoption of Thai ...

as a People's Power Party representative, however, he was previously affiliated with many political parties, including

Justice Unity Party The Justice Unity Party (, ), which later changed its name to the Liberal Party (, ), was a Thai pro-military and conservative political party established after the military coup d'état of 1991. It represented the interests of the military, bur ...

Chart Thai Party Thai Nation Party, or Chart Thai Party (, ) was a conservative political party in Thailand. It was dissolved by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on December 2, 2008, along with the People's Power Party and the Neutral Democratic Party, for hav ...

, Solidarity Party and

Thai Rak Thai The Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT; , , ; "Thais Love Thais Party") was a list of political parties in Thailand, Thai political party founded in 1998. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under its founder, Prime Minister of Thailand, Prime Mini ...

Personal life and education

He was married to La-ong. They had five sons and one daughter. One of Chai's sons is

Newin Chidchob Newin Chidchob (, born 4 October 1958) is a Thai politician from Buriram Province. As a member of several political parties, Newin and his allies eventually joined the Thai Rak Thai Party of Thaksin Shinawatra in 2005. Prior to the 2006 Thai coup ...

, a politician in the lower northeastern region. The PPP nomination of Chai as the house speaker is partly credited to Newin. He was an admirer of Israeli politician and soldier

Moshe Dayan Moshe Dayan (; May 20, 1915 – October 16, 1981) was an Israeli military leader and politician. As commander of the Jerusalem front in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Chief of General Staff (Israel), Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defe ...

, sometimes even calling himself "Chai Moshe". Chai graduated high school from Surawitthayakhan School in

Surin Province Surin (, ; , ; ) is one of Thailand's seventy-seven Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat''). It lies in Isan#Administrative divisions, lower northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. Neighboring provinces are (from west clockwise) Burira ...

. He was awarded a BA in political science by

Ramkhamhaeng University Ramkhamhaeng University (RU; , ) is Thailand's largest public university. It was named in honour of King Ramkhamhaeng, one of the 5 children of Por Khun Sri-Intharathitaya and Nang Sueng, who was believed to have created the Thai alphabet and ...

and a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in agricultural extension and cooperative promotion from

Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU; , ; ''Sukhothai Thammathirat University'') is the only open university in Thailand. History Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University was officially established by royal charter on 5 September 1978 as T ...

Death

Chai died at his house in

on 24 January 2020.

Royal decorations

Chai received the following royal decorations in the

Honours System An order is a visible honour awarded by a sovereign state, monarch, dynastic house or organisation to a person, typically in recognition of individual merit, that often comes with distinctive insignia such as collars, medals, badges, and sash ...

of Thailand: * Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble

Order of the Crown of Thailand The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand (; ) is a Thai order, established in 1869 by King Rama V of The Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) for Thais, the royal family, governmental employees, and foreign dignitaries for their outstanding serv ...

* Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted

Order of the White Elephant __NOTOC__ The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (; ) is an order (decoration), order of Thailand. It was established in 1861 by King Mongkut, Rama IV of the Thailand, Kingdom of Siam. Along with the Order of the Crown of Thailand, it is r ...

* Commander (Third Class) of The Most Admirable

Order of the Direkgunabhorn The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn (; ) was established by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) on 22 July 1991 (B.E. 2534) to be bestowed upon those who have rendered devotional services to the Kingdom of Thailand. The title ''Direkgu ...

References

1928 births 2020 deaths Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob Chai Chidchob {{Thailand-politician-stub