Newin Chidchob | |
|---|---|
| เนวิน ชิดชอบ | |
 Newin Chidchob in 2012 | |
| Chairman of Buriram United | |
| Assumed office September 2009 | |
| Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister | |
| In office 2 August 2005 – 24 February 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| Preceded by | |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 October 1958 Surin, Thailand |
| Political party | Bhumjaithai (2008–12) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse | Karuna Chidchob |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Saksayam Chidchob (brother) Permpoon Chidchob (brother) |
Newin Chidchob (Thai: เนวิน ชิดชอบ, born 4 October 1958) is a Thai politician from Buriram Province. As a member of several political parties, Newin and his allies eventually joined the Thai Rak Thai Party of Thaksin Shinawatra in 2005. Prior to the 2006 Thai coup d'état, he served as a member of Parliament for Buriram Province and was a Cabinet Minister with the Thai Rak Thai Party. From 2002 to 2005, he was Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.
Following the 2006 Thai coup d'état and the subsequent dissolution of Thai Rak Thai for corruption, Newin and his friends, mostly members of the National Assembly from the south of Isan (the northeastern region), shifted from the ruling (now also dissolved) People Power Party (PPP) to the opposition Democrat Party during the 2008 Thai political crisis.[1] He is the leader of the so-called "Friends of Newin Group", now known as the Bhumjai Thai Party. Consequently, a Democrat Party led coalition gained the majority in the National Assembly. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party's leader, was elected by a majority of the Parliament to be the new prime minister in December 2008.
During the political tension in April 2009 caused by pro-Thaksin groups widely known as the Red Shirts, Newin publicly blasted Thaksin, his former 'boss', as the root of the political tension due to his 'doubts' of Thaksin's loyalty towards the monarchy and the current political system of the Kingdom. Previously in 2008, Newin had wept with Thaksin when the former PM kissed the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi Airport after returning to Thailand after a self-imposed exile.