Samak Sundaravej

ModernPoliticianThailand1935 — ?

Thaksin's proxy prime minister.

Compare Samak Sundaravej with another historical figure:

Quick Facts

Born

1935

Country

Thailand

Era

Modern

Occupation

Politician

Score Overview

Military (10%)20

Political (20%)26

Influence (20%)46

Legacy (20%)35

Leadership (15%)31

Strategy (15%)58

Total Score36.5

Samak Sundaravej — Complete Timeline

2008 AD

Election as Prime MinisterPolitical Action◆ Major

Samak Sundaravej became Prime Minister after his People's Power Party won the 2007 general election. He was seen as a proxy for the exiled Thaksin Shinawatra, continuing Thaksin's populist policies and facing opposition from anti-Thaksin groups.

Prime MinisterElectionThaksin Proxy

Impact: national

Political Crisis and Yellow Shirt ProtestsPolitical Action◆ Major

Samak's government faced massive protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (Yellow Shirts), who accused him of being a Thaksin puppet. The protests included the seizure of Government House and disrupted governance, leading to a political stalemate.

ProtestsPolitical CrisisYellow Shirts

Impact: nationaldestructive

Disqualification by the Constitutional CourtPolitical Action◆ Major

The Constitutional Court of Thailand disqualified Samak from the premiership for accepting payment for hosting a cooking show on television, violating the constitution. This ruling forced his resignation and deepened the political crisis.

DisqualificationConstitutional CourtResignation

Impact: national