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Sontaya Kunplome

Summary

Sontaya Kunplome (Thai: สนธยา คุณปลื้ม, RTGS: Sonthaya Khunpluem; born 10 December 1963) is a Thai politician. He was appointed political advisor to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in April 2018. Later in September 2018, he was appointed Pattaya Mayor.[1]

Sontaya Kunplome
สนธยา คุณปลื้ม
Sontaya in 2021
Mayor of Pattaya City
In office
26 September 2018 – 22 May 2022
Preceded byAnan Charoenchasri
Succeeded byPoramet Ngampichet
Minister of Culture
In office
28 October 2012 – 22 May 2014
Prime MinisterYingluck Shinawatra
Preceded bySukumol Kunplome
Succeeded byVeera Rojpojanarat
Minister of Tourism and Sports
In office
3 October 2002 – 10 March 2004
Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded bySomsak Thepsuthin
Minister of Science and Technology
In office
17 February 2001 – 3 October 2002
Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra
Preceded byArthit Ourairat
Succeeded byPinit Jarusombat
Personal details
Born (1963-12-10) 10 December 1963 (age 60)
Chonburi, Thailand
Political partyPalang Pracharath
Other political
affiliations		Pheu Thai
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
SpouseSukumol Kunplome
Parent
Relatives
Alma materSripatum University
ProfessionPolitician

Early life and education edit

Sontaya Kunplome was born on 10 December 1963 as the son of Somchai Khunpluem ("Kamnan Poh") and Satil Khunpluem.[2] He graduated from Assumption College Sriracha and Bachelor of Laws from Sripatum University.

Political careers edit

From 2001 to 2002, Sontaya was Minister of Science and Technology, and from 2002 to 2005 Minister of Tourism and Sports under Thaksin Shinawatra.[3] As an executive member of the Thai Rak Thai Party, he has been banned from politics for five years since the Supreme Tribunal dissolved the party in May 2007.[4] Since 2011, he is the chief adviser[5] and de facto leader of the Phalang Chon Party.[6] Sontaya is married to Sukumol Kunplome who has been culture minister in Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet since 2011.[7] Sontaya took over this position in November 2012.[8]

On 17 April 2018, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appointed Sonthaya, leader of the Phalang Chon Party to be Advisor to the Prime Minister in Political Affairs.[9]

During the 2019 general elections, Sontaya began having conflicts with Suchart Chomklin over who the Palang Pracharath would field in the election. In Chonburi province in the election, Suchart's faction won three seats, whilst Sontaya's backed candidates were defeated by the Future Forward party.[10]

Mayor of Pattaya City edit

On 26 September 2018, Sontaya was appointed mayor of Pattaya City by Prime Minister Prayut for the benefit of operations in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) as well as the reform of local government.[11]Previously, his brother Itthiphol served as mayor from 2008 to 2016. His appointment generated criticism of Prayut who was accused of rewarding him to ensure his support from the Phalang Chon Party in the upcoming election. Prayut responded by dismissing accusations.[12]On September 28, he announced his first policies which included turning Pattaya into the center of the EEC, developing a facility that turns garbage into energy.[13]

He was succeeded by Poramet Ngampichet from Sontaya's Rao Rak Pattaya party in the 2022 mayoral elections.

References edit

  1. ^ "Junta Replaces Pattaya Mayor by Article 44". Khaosod English. 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  2. ^ "Prayoon Murder Case: Kamnan Poh On The Run", The Nation, retrieved 16 March 2012
  3. ^ Assembly LIV Archived 2012-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, The secretariat of the Cabinet, retrieved on 16 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Ministers get ready for a fight as bans set to be lifted", The Nation, 8 March 2012
  5. ^ "Kunplome family party hopes independence wins seats in July election", Pattaya Mail, 3 June 2011, retrieved 16 March 2012
  6. ^ "Party leaders attend reconciliation lunchoen", The Nation, 6 January 2012
  7. ^ "Reshuffle 'inevitable' after ban lift", Bangkok Post, 6 March 2012
  8. ^ "CV", Cul Gov, Nov 2012
  9. ^ นายกฯ ตั้ง "สนธยา คุณปลื้ม" เป็นที่ปรึกษาด้านการเมือง
  10. ^ "Tide of change threatens Khunpluem dynasty's dominance in Pattaya elections". www.thaipbsworld.com. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  11. ^ "ม.44ตั้ง'สนธยา' นายกเมืองพัทยา". Thai Post | อิสรภาพแห่งความคิด. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  12. ^ "PM denies Pattaya shenanigans". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  13. ^ "PM-appointed Pattaya mayor Sontaya starts work". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-10-14.