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Thailand elects new parliamentary speaker

Sophon Saram of the Bhumjaithai Party received 289 votes to become Speaker of the House of Representatives, compared to 123 votes for Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party.

Sophon Saram of the Bhumjaithai Party is elected Speaker of Thailand's House of Representatives on March 15, 2026. (Photo: nationthailand.com)
Sophon Saram of the Bhumjaithai Party is elected Speaker of Thailand's House of Representatives on March 15, 2026. (Photo: nationthailand.com)

Bangkok (VNA) – Sophon Saram of the Bhumjaithai Party on March 15 was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position that also serves as President of Thailand’s National Assembly, after defeating Parit Wacharasindhu of the People’s Party in a secret ballot during the first sitting of the country’s newly elected lower house.

In a secret ballot vote, Sophon received 289 votes to become the new speaker, compared to 123 votes for Parit, acting Speaker Pairoj Lohsunthorn announced. There were 80 abstentions and five spoiled ballots.

Following the royal ceremony to open Parliament on March 14, the House of Representatives on March 15 convened for the 27th House, first year, the first extraordinary session of the year.

The key agenda was the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the First Deputy Speaker and the Second Deputy Speaker, with Pairoj Lohsuntorn, a 90-year-old party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party and the most senior MP in the House, serving as temporary presiding officer.

During that key agenda, two names were proposed for a vote to elect the House Speaker: Sophon Saram, a Bhumjaithai Party MP, and Parit Wacharasindhu, a People's Party MP.

The meeting then had the 497 members present, out of a total of 498 MPs, cast secret ballots./.

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#Thailand #Thai parliament #Thai House of Representatives #Sophon Saram #Bhumjaithai Party Thailand
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