Prommin Lertsuridej

Prommin Lertsuridej (, ; born 5 November 1954) is a Secretary General to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, former student leader, former Secretary General to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, former Minister of Energy in the Thaksin government, and former Secretary General to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. After a 2006 military coup overthrew the Thaksin government, Prommin was arrested and detained by the junta for three weeks. He was released from captivity on 1 October 2006. Prommin is married to Mattaya Lertsuridej, M.D. and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Student leader As a pre-medical student at Mahidol University, Prommin played a leading role in the student democratic movement after the mass protests against the military regime in 1973. "When I was twenty, I assumed a critical position that resulted in the loss of lives of several of my friends. It is still in my heart. So I don't want to relive that haunting experience again", said Prommin. His role in the burgeoning democratic movement continued until the 6 October 1976 massacre, when the military brutally cracked down on students at Thammasat University.

Prommin joined thousands of students in leaving the cities and joining the Communist Party of Thailand in its insurgency against the military dictatorship. Joining him were several comrades that would become allies in the establishment of the Thai Rak Thai party, like Chaturon Chaisang, Prapat Panyachatraksa, and Surapong Suebwonglee. After 4 years of fighting, the Communist Party collapsed, and Prommin and his comrades laid down their arms under a government amnesty.

Medical education and career After returning to Bangkok, Prommin resumed his medical studies, graduating with a B.S. from Mahidol in 1982. He completed his medical degree from Mahidol University's Ramathibodi Hospital in 1984.

From 1985 to 1988, Prommin was Director of Nong Song Hong Hospital in Khonkaen. He later completed a Pearson Fellowship (funding by IDRC) in public administration from Ottawa University and Carleton University, Canada and became Director of Phon Hospital, Khonkaen. From 1991 to 1993 he became Head of the Health Planning Section at the Thai Ministry of Public Health. He was admitted to the Board of Preventive Medicine of Thailand in 1992.

From February 2003 to March 2005, he was Minister of Energy, primarily responsible for controversial issues like privatization of EGAT and price controls.

In 2020, he came back to politics by rejoining Pheu Thai party and was a key man for the party in the 2023 Thai general election. He was later appointed to be a Secretary General to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the same position he served during Thaksin's administration.

Political crisis and detention during the military coup

The Thaksin government faced rising opposition from its landslide victory in the 2005 House election. As tensions mounted to critical proportions, Prommin Lertsuridej, almost in tears, gave a public statement in August 2006 begging all sides, both within the government and in the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy to try to refrain from violence. His plea fell on deaf ears, with the Bangkok Post calling it an "absurd call."

On 19 September 2006, the Thai military seized power while Thaksin and several other senior government leaders were overseas. Prommin was immediately arrested. He was released from captivity on 1 October 2006.

Post 2006 In July 2012, the Court of Appeals imposed a suspended four-month jail sentence and a Bt2,000 fine on former Democrat Party secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban for defaming Prommin Lertsuridej. Lertsuridej had charged Democrat Party leaders with making baseless accusations that he had interfered with the April 2006 elections.

In September 2023, he was appointed to be the Secretary General to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

Detention during the 2014 military coup

Prommin was ordered to report and detained by the military junta on 23 May 2014 along with hundreds others to classified military compound. He was released on 29 May 2014 after being detained for a week.