| Post: | Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives |
| Insignia: | Seal of the Parliament of Thailand.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 100 |
| Insigniacaption: | Seal of the Parliament of Thailand |
| Style: | Leader of the Opposition |
| Status: | Leader of the Opposition |
| Native Name: | ผู้นำฝ่ายค้านในสภาผู้แทนราษฎร |
| Incumbent: | Vacant |
| Incumbentsince: | 7 August 2024 |
| Termlength: | While leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government |
| Inaugural: | Seni Pramoj |
| Appointer: | Monarch |
| Department: | National Assembly |
| Member Of: | House of Representatives |
| Seat: | Sappaya-Sapasathan |
| Constituting Instrument: | Constitution of Thailand |
| Salary: | ฿73,240 monthly[1] |
The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives (Thai: ผู้นำฝ่ายค้านในสภาผู้แทนราษฎร;), more commonly described as the Leader of the Opposition, is the politician in the politics of Thailand who leads the main minority party in the House of Representatives. The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives that is not in government.[2]
Following the Westminster style parliamentary system,[3] Thailand has had an official Leader of the Opposition since 1975. Under the 2007 Constitution the Leader of the Opposition was given an official role within the Thai political system. The constitution stipulates that the Leader of the Opposition must be selected after the Prime Minister and the Cabinet has taken office.
To be nominated as candidate one must be the leader of the largest political party with no member holding any ministerial positions and if his or her party holds more or one-fifth (96 seats) of the seats in the House (480 seats). If no candidate meets this qualification then a leader of a minority party with the largest number of votes from parties with no members holding ministerial positions will be selected. The appointment will then be formalized by the King.
The Leader of the Opposition also has other roles apart from leading the Shadow Cabinet, he is also an ex-officio member of several selection committees for: Constitutional Court Judges, Election Commissioners, Ombudsmen and commissioners of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and members of the State Audit Commission.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seni Pramoj[4] Thai: หม่อมราชวงศ์เสนีย์ ปราโมช | 22 March 1975 | 12 January 1976 | Democrat | |||
| 2 | Pramarn Adireksarn[5] ประมาณ อดิเรกสาร (1913–2010) | 24 April 1983 | 1 May 1986 | Thai Nation | |||
| 3 | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh[6] ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (born 1932) | 15 May 1992 | 16 June 1992 | New Aspiration | |||
| (2) | Pramarn Adireksarn[7] ประมาณ อดิเรกสาร (1913–2010) | 30 October 1992 | 7 May 1994 | Thai Nation | |||
| 4 | Banharn Silpa-archa[8] บรรหาร ศิลปอาชา (1932–2016) | 27 May 1994 | 19 May 1995 | Thai Nation | |||
| 5 | Chuan Leekpai[9] [10] ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) | 4 August 1995 | 27 September 1996 | Democrat | |||
| 21 December 1996 | 8 November 1997 | ||||||
| (3) | Chavalit Yongchaiyudh[11] [12] [13] ชวลิต ยงใจยุทธ (born 1932) | 26 November 1997 | 2 June 1998 | New Aspiration | |||
| 2 September 1998 | 27 April 1999 | ||||||
| 12 May 1999 | 30 April 2000 | ||||||
| (5) | Chuan Leekpai[14] ชวน หลีกภัย (born 1938) | 11 March 2001 | 3 May 2003 | Democrat | |||
| 6 | Banyat Bantadtan[15] บัญญัติ บรรทัดฐาน (born 1942) | 23 May 2003 | 5 January 2005 | Democrat | |||
| 7 | Abhisit Vejjajiva[16] [17] [18] อภิสิทธิ์ เวชชาชีวะ (born 1964) | 23 April 2005 | 24 February 2006 | Democrat | |||
| 27 February 2008 | 17 December 2008 | ||||||
| 16 September 2011 | 8 December 2013 | ||||||
| 8 | Sompong Amornwiwat[19] สมพงษ์ อมรวิวัฒน์ (born 1941) | 17 August 2019 | 26 September 2020 | Pheu Thai | |||
| 6 December 2020 | 28 October 2021 | ||||||
| 9 | Chonlanan Srikaew[20] ชลน่าน ศรีแก้ว (born 1961) | 23 December 2021 | 20 March 2023 | Pheu Thai | |||
| 10 | Chaithawat Tulathon ชัยธวัช ตุลาธน (born 1978) | 17 December 2023 | 7 August 2024 | Move Forward | |||