Background
Surapong Tovichakchaikul was born on 1 May 1953 at Chiang Mai Province.
Surapong Tovichakchaikul was born on 1 May 1953 at Chiang Mai Province.
He earned a Bachelor of Engineering from Khon Kaen University.
He is Thaksin Shinwatra"s cousin in-law because Sumalee Tovichakchaikul (Surapong"s aunt) married to Satien Shinawatra, Thaksin"s uncle. Surapong has 2 children: Nuttapong Tovichakchaikul and Supisara Tovichakchaikul. He also has been elected for Democrat Party executive.
In 2005 general election, he was a 41st party-list Member of Parliament candidate for Democrat Party but was not elected.
When he was Democrat Party member, Surapong played important role to criticize Thaksin Shinwatra. Later, Surapong moved to join Thai Rak Thai Party in 2006.
After coup d"état and Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved, he and most of Thai Rak Thai Party members moved to People"s Power Party. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai Province again in 2007 general election on behalf of People"s Power Party by leadership of Samak Sundaravej.
In 2009, Surapong was among United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship supporters who signed petition for Thaksin"s amnesty.
Later, Surapong moved to Pheu Thai Party and has been appointed as deputy leader of the party in September 2010. In 2011 general election, he was elected as 20st party-list Member of Parliament for Pheu Thai Party and has been appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Yingluck Shinawatra"s government. Later, Surapong was also appointed as deputy Prime Minister.
The Yingluck government was ousted by a coup d"état on 22 May 2014.
Surapong entered politics by has been elected as Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai Province on behalf of Democrat Party in 1996 general election. In 2001 general election, he was a Member of Parliament candidate for the same party but lost to Pakorn Buranupakorn from Thai Rak Thai Party.
