Chuan Leekpai

Who is Chuan Leekpai?

Chuan Leekpai was the Prime Minister of Thailand from September 20, 1992 to May 19, 1995 and again from November 9, 1997 to February 9, 2001. He is a third-generation Thai Chinese of Hokkien Han Chinese descent. His father's name was Niyom Leekpai and his mother's name was Tuan Leekpai. Chuan Leekpai has 9 siblings and is the third child in the family. At a young age, Chuan moved to the temple school called 'Wat Amarintraram' in Bangkok where he lived for 6 years. Then he went to study Law at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand. After he graduated, he worked as a lawyer and then as a politician. He has one son, Surabot Leekpai, with Pakdiporn Sujaritkul.

As the leader of the Democrat Party, Chuan was elected in 1992 after the abortive coup by General Suchinda Kraprayoon, thus becoming Thailand's first prime minister to come to power without either aristocratic or military backing.