Thai Rak Thai (ไทยรักไทย, lit. Thais Love Thais; TRT) is a political party in Thailand. As of 2005 it was the ruling party, led by the prime minister and its founder, Thaksin Shinawatra. TRT won the election of 2001 and election of 2005. The party has no clear ideological platform, but is commonly described as "populist".

History

The Thai Rak Thai was formed in 2001 by telecommunications billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra. It was built largely by amalgamating pre-existing parties and factions. In that year's general election, the TRT won 248 seats in the 438 seat House of Representatives, giving it an absolute majority, and making Thaksin the new prime minister. It rules in a coalition with the New Aspiration Party and the Thai Nation Party. The governing parties together have 342 seats, the largest ruling coalition bloc in Thai history.

In government the party has combined populist policies such as cash grants to villages (used for microcredit loans) and a 30 baht health scheme (allowing anyone to receive medical treatment for a small fee) with strong support for United States foreign policy. The latter included contributing a small number of troops to the United States-led coalition in Iraq.

February 6, 2005 TRT won a landslide victory in Thailand's legislative election.

External link

• Thai Rak Thai (in Thai)