Somsak Thepsuthin

Somsak Thepsuthin (Thai: สมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน; born 13 January 1955) is a Thai politician and Minister of Public Health under Srettha Thavisin's cabinet. He served as Minister of Justice in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Somsak Thepsuthin MPCh MWM
สมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน
Somsak in 2019
Minister of Public Health
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 April 2024
Prime Minister	Srettha Thavisin Paetongtarn Shinawatra
Preceded by	Cholnan Srikaew
In office 24 October 1997 – 8 November 1997
Prime Minister	Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
Preceded by	Montri Pongpanich
Succeeded by	Rakkiat Sukthana
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 1 September 2023 – 27 April 2024
Prime Minister	Srettha Thavisin
In office 6 October 2004 – 11 March 2005
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Minister of Justice
In office 10 July 2019 – 17 March 2023
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Prajin Juntong
Succeeded by	Tawee Sodsong
Minister of Labour
In office 2 August 2005 – 19 September 2006
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Sora-at Klinpratoom
Succeeded by	Apai Chantanajunlaka
Minister of Tourism and Sports
In office 11 March 2005 – 2 August 2005
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Sontaya Kunplome
Succeeded by	Pracha Maleenont
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
In office 8 November 2003 – 6 October 2004
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Sora-at Klinpratoom
Succeeded by	Wan Muhamad Noor Matha
Minister of Industry
In office 3 October 2002 – 8 November 2003
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Suriya Juangroongruangkit
Succeeded by	Pinit Jarusombat
In office 14 November 1997 – 4 October 1998
Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai
Preceded by	Korn Dabbaransi
Succeeded by	Suwat Liptapanlop
Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister
In office 17 February 2001 – 3 October 2002
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Adisai Potaramik
Succeeded by	Pongthep Thepkanjana Suwat Liptapanlop
Deputy Minister of Transport
In office 18 July 1995 – 24 November 1996
Prime Minister	Banharn Silpa-archa
Deputy Minister of Public Health
In office 17 April 1992 – 10 June 1992
Prime Minister	Suchinda Kraprayoon
Personal details
Born	(1955-01-13) 13 January 1955 Sukhothai, Thailand
Political party	Pheu Thai (2013–2018, 2023–present)
Other political affiliations	Social Action (1977–2001) Thai Rak Thai (2001–2007) People's Power (2007) Neutral Democratic (2007–2008) Bhumjaithai (2009–2013) Palang Pracharath (2019–2023)
Spouse	Anongwan Thepsuthin
Alma mater	King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Thammasat University
Profession	Politician
Signature

Life and education

Somsak was born and raised in Sukhothai Province and later attended Amnuay Silpa School in Bangkok. He completed a Bachelor of Engineering from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and a master's degree in political science (public administration) from Thammasat University. He was elected Member of Parliament representing Sukhothai Province's first constituency for the first time in 1983. A member of the Social Action Party, he was confirmed in every election until 2001.

Political Career

He served as deputy minister of public health in Suchinda Kraprayoon's cabinet from April to May 1992 (during Black May). From September 1992 to September 1993 he served as deputy minister of transport and communication under Chuan Leekpai and again from September 1996 to October 1997 under Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Subsequently, he was shortly Minister of Public Health under the same prime minister until the government's resignation in the following month. In the second government of Chuan Leekpai, Somsak was the Minister of Industry from November 1997 to October 1998.

Having switched to Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT), Somsak was elected to the House of Representatives on the TRT party-list in the 2001 general election, while his wife Anongwan Thepsuthin succeeded him as MP for the first constituency of Sukhothai Province. In Thaksin's government that came into office in September 2001, Somsak first served as Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, before switching to the Ministry of Industry in October 2002 and the Ministry of Agriculture in November 2003. In Thaksin's second government, Somsak held the office of Minister of Tourism and Sports from March to August 2005 and subsequently Minister of Labour until the 19 September 2006 coup d'état.

Being a member of the TRT party's executive committee, Somsak was barred from holding political office for five years upon the dissolution of the party by the Constitutional Court. Nevertheless, he founded the Matchima ("neutral") group, that first merged into Sanoh Thienthong Pracharaj Party before separating and becoming the Neutral Democratic Party (NDP) in October 2007. As Somsak was officially barred, his wife Anongwan became the party's secretary-general. The party won seven constituency seats in the December 2007 general election and joined the government coalition led by People's Power Party (PPP) and Samak Sundaravej. In Samak's government and that of his successor Somchai Wongsawat, Anongwan Thepsuthin served as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from February to December 2008. The Constitutional Court dissolved the Neutral Democratic Party together with its coalition partners PPP and Thai Nation Party for election fraud on 2 December 2008.