# Phumtham Wechayachai

_Acting Prime Minister of Thailand from 14 to 16 August 2024 and from July to September 2025_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/phumtham-wechayachai
Last updated: 2026-11-07

> Phumtham Wechayachai is a Thai politician who served as the acting Prime Minister of Thailand from the suspension of Paetongtarn Shinawatra in July to the appointment of Anutin Charnvirakul in September 2025 as well as from 14 to 16 August 2024 from the dismissal of Srettha Thavisin to the appointment of Paetongtarn. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand in the Srettha cabinet, and in the Paetongtarn cabinet he served as Minister of Defence. He is the concurrent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 5 December 1953 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Phasi Charoen ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Thailand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; businessperson; researcher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P106))
- **Political party:** Pheu Thai Party (since 2012); Thai Rak Thai Party (1998–2007); Democrat Party (1977–1997); Communist Party of Thailand (1976–1977) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P102))
- **Education:** Taweethapisek School; Chulalongkorn University; National Defence College of Thailand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P69))
- **Spouse:** Apinaya Wechayachai ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P26))
- **Positions held:** Prime Minister of Thailand (3 July 2025 – 7 September 2025 · BS 18 Asar 2082 – 21 Bhadra 2082); Minister of Interior of Thailand (30 June 2025 – 19 September 2025 · BS 15 Asar 2082 – 2 Asoj 2082); Minister of Defence of Thailand (3 September 2024 – 30 June 2025 · BS 17 Bhadra 2081 – 15 Asar 2082); Prime Minister of Thailand (14 August 2024 – 16 August 2024 · BS 29 Shrawan 2081 – 31 Shrawan 2081); Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (28 April 2024 – 30 April 2024 · BS 15 Baisakh 2081 – 17 Baisakh 2081); Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (1 September 2023 – 19 September 2025 · BS 15 Bhadra 2080 – 2 Asoj 2082); Minister of Commerce of Thailand (1 September 2023 – 3 September 2024 · BS 15 Bhadra 2080 – 17 Bhadra 2081); Deputy Minister of Transport of Thailand (11 March 2005 – 19 September 2006); Member of the House of Representatives of Thailand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand; Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P166))
- **X (Twitter):** phumtham ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P2002))
- **Facebook:** pwechayachai ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661#P2013))

## Questions

**When was Phumtham Wechayachai born?**  
Phumtham Wechayachai was born on 5 December 1953 in Phasi Charoen.

**What positions has Phumtham Wechayachai held?**  
Positions held by Phumtham Wechayachai include: Prime Minister of Thailand (2025–2025); Minister of Interior of Thailand (2025–2025); Minister of Defence of Thailand (2024–2025); Prime Minister of Thailand (2024–2024); Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (2024–2024).

**Where did Phumtham Wechayachai study?**  
Phumtham Wechayachai was educated at Taweethapisek School, Chulalongkorn University, National Defence College of Thailand.

## Related

- [Anutin Charnvirakul](https://diginpl.com/people/anutin-charnvirakul)
- [Thanom Kittikachorn](https://diginpl.com/people/thanom-kittikachorn)
- [Yingluck Shinawatra](https://diginpl.com/people/yingluck-shinawatra)
- [Thanin Kraivichien](https://diginpl.com/people/thanin-kraivichien)
- [Plaek Phibunsongkhram](https://diginpl.com/people/plaek-phibunsongkhram)
- [Thaksin Shinawatra](https://diginpl.com/people/thaksin-shinawatra)
- [Banharn Silpa-archa](https://diginpl.com/people/banharn-silpa-archa)
- [Samak Sundaravej](https://diginpl.com/people/samak-sundaravej)
- [Surayud Chulanont](https://diginpl.com/people/surayud-chulanont)
- [Phraya Phahonphonphayuhasena](https://diginpl.com/people/phraya-phahonphonphayuhasena)
- [Somchai Wongsawat](https://diginpl.com/people/somchai-wongsawat)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Phumtham Wechayachai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phumtham_Wechayachai) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q13018661](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13018661) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Phumtham Wechayachai 30 May 2025.jpg by U.S. Secretary of Defense (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phumtham_Wechayachai_30_May_2025.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Phumtham Wechayachai, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Phumtham Wechayachai 30 May 2025.jpg — U.S. Secretary of Defense, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Phumtham Wechayachai". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/phumtham-wechayachai. Retrieved 9 November 2026.