Sudarat Keyuraphan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Khun Ying Sudarat Keyuraphan
สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์
Sudarat Keyuraphan in 2020
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives
In office 11 March 2005 – 19 September 2006
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Wan Muhamad Noor Matha
Succeeded by	Theera Sutabut
Minister of Public Health
In office 17 February 2001 – 10 March 2005
Prime Minister	Thaksin Shinawatra
Preceded by	Korn Dabbaransi
Succeeded by	Suchai Charoenratanakul
Deputy Minister of the Interior
In office 28 May 1996 – 14 August 1996
Prime Minister	Banharn Silpa-archa
Preceded by	Suchart Tancharoen
Succeeded by	Arsa Meksawan
Deputy Minister of Transport
In office 25 October 1994 – 19 May 1995
Prime Minister	Chuan Leekpai
Preceded by	Jarad Phuachuai
Succeeded by	Sombat Uthaisang
Leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 September 2022
Personal details
Born	(1961-05-01) 1 May 1961 (age 63) Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Thai Sang Thai (2021–Present)
Other political affiliations	Palang Dharma (1992–1998) Thai Rak Thai (1998–2007) Pheu Thai (2012–2020)
Spouse	Somyos Leelapanyalert
Children	3
Education	Chulalongkorn University (BS and MBA) Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (PhD)
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Volunteer Defense Corps
Rank	VDC Col

Sudarat Keyuraphan (Thai: สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์, pronounced [sù(ʔ).dāː.rát kēː.jú(ʔ).rāː.pʰān]) is a Thai politician and former member of the Pheu Thai Party. She participated in protests in May 1992. She is a former minister who held various positions during Thaksin Shinawatra and Chuan Leekpai governments. Currently, she is the chairman of the Thai Pueng Thai Foundation, as well as the founder, and leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party.

Family and personal life

Sudarat was born on 1 May 1961 in Bangkok to Sompon Keyurapan and Renu Keyuraphan. Her father was the former Member of Parliament from Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Sudarat is married to Somyos Leelapunyalert, who is a real estate entrepreneur. They have 2 sons and 1 daughter, including,

1. Phumphat Leelapunyalert (Boss)
2. Peeraphat Leelapunyalert (Best)
3. Yossuda Leelapunyalert (Jinny)

Sudarat graduated high-school from St. Joseph Convent School in Bangkok. She earned her bachelor's degree from Chulalongkorn University in commerce and accountancy and a master's degree from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration. In 2018, she earned her doctoral degree in Buddhist studies from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University and received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Arts Department of Social and Environmental Development from Nakhon Phanom University Council

Political work

Sudarat began her political career as part of the Palang Dharma Party, being elected an MP for Bangkok's District 12 in the election of March 1992. She was reelected in September of the same year and was appointed deputy government spokesperson for Chuan Leekpai's Government.

In 1994, Sudarat was appointed Secretary-General of the Palang Dharma Party and was also appointed Deputy Minister of Transport.

In the 1995 Election, Sudarat was re-elected MP and was appointed Deputy Minister of Interior in Banharn Silpa-archa's Government.

In 1996, Sudarat was once again elected MP and was the only member to be elected from Palang Dharma.

Two years later, in 1998, Sudarat co-founded the Thai Rak Thai Party together with Thaksin Shinawatra and 21 others, including Somkid Jatusripitak, Thanong Bidaya, Purachai Piumsombun, Thammarak Isaragura na Ayuthaya, and Prommin Lertsuridej. Sudarat was appointed Deputy Leader of Thai Rak Thai

In the 2001 election, Sudarat was elected a Member of Parliament and was appointed Minister of Public Health on February 17, 2001 under the Thaksin government. She was involved in a long-running scandal over the purchase of overpriced computers for hospitals by the Ministry of Public Health.

The 2006 election saw her party win over 61% of the vote, becoming the largest party, and Sudarat was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. She lost her position following the September 2006 coup.

As one of 111 executive members of the TRT, she was banned from political activities for five years after the 2006 coup d'état.

Sudarat later returned to Thai politics, contesting the 2019 election as a party-list MP and prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party. However, although the party won the most constituency seats, it did not win any party-list seats.

Later, Sudarat has resigned from the Pheu Thai Party and co-founded the Thai Sang Thai Party and served as the leader.

Social role

Sudarat established the Foundation for Women for Democracy and a group of women and politics in 1993, which later evolved into an institution of women and politics (To encourage women to have knowledge and understanding of Thai politics and to be more interested in participating in political activities). In 1998, she established the "Thai Pueng Thai" project to help unemployed women to have jobs and build their own careers when the country experienced an economic crisis.

In 2011, Sudarat was appointed to be the chairman of “Together...to assist all victims and fight national disasters” project under the Miracle of Life Foundation in honor of Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Siriwattana Phannawadee and is a chairman of the Thai Pueng Thai Foundation, Founding Chairman of the Sang Thai Institute and Leader of the Thai Sang Thai Party

Notable awards and honors

• 1996 - Thailand Tatler Award “Most talked about personality of the year”
• 1997 – Notable Alumni Awards from Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy from Chulalongkorn University
• 2003 – Tobacco-Free World Award from WHO
• 2003 – Mental Health Princess Award in supporting Mental health from Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana
• 2014 – World Buddhist Outstanding Leader Award from World Fellowship of Buddhists
• 2015 – Asoka Pilla Trophy Religion Leader from The Association of Distinguished Contributors to Buddhism of Thailand

Honours

Sudarat has received the following royal decorations in the Honours System of Thailand:

• 1999 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• 1996 - Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• 2005 - Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn
• 2005 - Member of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao

See also

In Spanish: Sudarat Keyuraphan para niños