Suwat Liptapanlop

Suwat Liptapanlop (Thai: สุวัจน์ ลิปตพัลลภ; born 9 February 1955 in Ratchaburi Province) is a Thai entrepreneur, politician and sports official based in Nakhon Ratchasima. He has held different cabinet posts in several governments since 1988, including deputy prime minister, and is the de facto leader of the Chart Pattana Party.

Suwat Liptapanlop's parents were traders of Chinese descent. They sold on a floating market in Ratchaburi Province. Later, the family moved to Bangkok, became involved in the transportation of construction material and then founded their own construction business. Suwat's father was an associate of General Arthit Kamlang-ek, from 1982 to 1986 commander-in-chief of the Thai army. He provided the Liptapanlops' company with military construction contracts. Most of the projects were in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), so the company and family that were responsible for building infrastructure and hospitals won considerable influence there.

Suwat Liptapanlop holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Kasetsart University in Bangkok and a Master of Science from Purdue University in the US state of Indiana. After returning to Thailand, he worked as a project manager in an engineering company.

In 1988, he entered politics as a member of General Arthit's Thai People's Party. In his Nakhon Ratchasima constituency, he could even defeat prime minister-to-be Chatichai Choonhavan. Nevertheless, the Thai People's Party joined Chatichai's government coalition and Suwat was made deputy minister of communication and transport. After the 1991 coup d'état, the military junta (National Peace Keeping Council) appointed him to their legislative assembly. In March 1992 he ran for the Justice Unity Party, but before the snap election in September of the same year, he defected to the National Development Party. He became the secretary-general and main financial backer of this party. Also in 1992, the government provided Suwat's firm with a lucrative contract to upgrade the "Friendship Highway".

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