Prem Tinsulanonda

This article may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. Please help improve it by rewriting it in a balanced fashion that contextualizes different points of view. (May 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Prem Tinsulanonda MPCh MWM PC NR RMK/SR PPh PC
เปรม ติณสูลานนท์
Prem in 1984
Regent of Thailand
In office 13 October 2016 – 1 December 2016
Monarch	Vajiralongkorn
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Srinagarindra (1967)
6th President of the Privy Council
In office 4 September 1998 – 26 May 2019[note 1]
Monarchs	Bhumibol Adulyadej Vajiralongkorn
Preceded by	Sanya Dharmasakti
Succeeded by	Surayud Chulanont
16th Prime Minister of Thailand
In office 3 March 1980 – 4 August 1988
Monarch	Bhumibol Adulyadej
Preceded by	Kriangsak Chamanan
Succeeded by	Chatichai Choonhavan
Minister of Defence
In office 24 May 1979 – 5 August 1986
Prime Minister	Kriangsak Chamanan Himself
Preceded by	Kriangsak Chamanan
Succeeded by	Panieng Karntarat
Commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army
In office 2 October 1978 – 26 August 1982
Preceded by	Serm Na Nakhon
Succeeded by	Prayuth Jarumanee
Personal details
Born	(1920-08-26)26 August 1920 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pak Tai, Siam (now Mueang Songkhla, Songkhla, Thailand)
Died	26 May 2019(2019-05-26) (aged 98) Phramongkutklao Hospital, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Independent
Alma mater	Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy US Army Armor School
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Thailand
Branch/service	Royal Thai Army
Years of service	1941–1986
Rank	General Admiral Air Chief Marshal
Battles/wars	Franco-Thai War World War II (WIA) Communist insurgency in Thailand

Prem Tinsulanonda (Thai: เปรม ติณสูลานนท์, RTGS: Prem Tinnasulanon, pronounced [prēːm tīn.nā.sǔː.lāː.nōn]; 26 August 1920^[1] – 26 May 2019)^[2] was a Thai military officer, politician, and statesman^[3] who served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 3 March 1980 to 4 August 1988, during which time he was credited with ending a communist insurgency and presiding over accelerating economic growth. As president of the Privy Council, he served as Regent of Thailand from the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 13 October 2016 until 1 December 2016, when Vajiralongkorn was proclaimed King. At the age of 98, Prem was the longest-living Thai Prime Minister. He is also the oldest regent of any country, surpassing Bavarian Prince Regent Luitpold's record, when he became the regent for king Rama X.

During the Thai political crisis of the mid-2000s, he was accused by deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his supporters of masterminding the 2006 coup,^[4] as well as in the appointment of the post-coup legislature and interim government of Surayud Chulanont.^[5] The military junta that ousted Thaksin denied that Prem had any important political role.^[6] Prem, as the President of the Privy Council, promoted King Bhumibol's ideologies and royal projects, though he sometimes represented himself as being the voice of the king. He urged Thai society to follow the king's advice and himself founded several welfare projects related to education, drug suppression, poverty, and national unity. A southerner, Prem had also dealt personally with trying to resolve the South Thailand insurgency.^[7]

Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).