Traisuree Taisaranakul has been appointed by her longtime boss, Anutin Charnvirakul, as the prime minister’s secretary-general, making her the youngest person ever to serve as the eyes and ears of the government leader.
Now 36, she served as Anutin’s secretary during his tenures as interior minister in the last two Pheu Thai-led administrations.
Before that, she was a deputy spokesperson in General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government
PM Anutin announced her appointment on September 21 while presiding over a by-election rally in Sisaket as Bhumjaithai Party leader.
“I trust her as a secretary who works on my behalf,” he told the crowd. “She can run for an MP seat in future, but right now I have to borrow her from the people of Sisaket. As prime minister, I want this Sisaket native to serve as my secretary-general.”
Traisuree joined Anutin to support Bhumjaithai candidate Chintawan Taisaranakul, her cousin sister, in her bid to win the vacant parliamentary seat.
‘Little Prime Minister’
Traisuree hails from a powerful political dynasty in the northeastern province. Her father, Wichit, is serving his seventh term as chief executive of the Sisaket Provincial Administrative Organisation. Her uncle, Teera, and aunt, Udomlak Pengnorapat, both served as MPs for the province.
Observers say Traisuree has been chosen by Anutin as part of Bhumjaithai’s strategy to woo support from younger voters.
Her job will be to report directly to the PM, serving as his most trusted aide, screening issues before they reach his desk and guarding his public image as national leader.
The media often refer to the PM's secretary-general as the “Little Prime Minister”, underscoring the role’s significance in Thai politics.
Traisuree is believed to be the youngest to serve in the post, with most former officeholders appointed in their 50s or 60s.
The outgoing PM secretary-general, Prommin Lertsuridej, was 68 when he assumed the role two years ago, serving under two Pheu Thai prime ministers – Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
His predecessor, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, was 63 when appointed to serve General Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2022.
Rachada Dhnadirek, who worked alongside Traisuree as deputy spokesperson in Prayut’s government, described her as quiet and media-shy.
“But whenever she had to give an interview, she always brought up good points,” said the former Democrat MP in a September 22 Facebook post.
Dismissing her young age, Rachada said Traisuree could boast more political experience than politicians many years her senior.
“She may be the youngest PM secretary-general, but she has plenty of experience.”
She also rejected claims that Traisuree’s rapid rise over the past six years was due to her being from a political dynasty. “If you didn’t have ability, responsibility, leadership, and maturity, nobody would dare to give you such an important position coveted by so many people,” she added.
Rachada also praised Traisuree for staying modest and level-headed despite her rise. “The more she grows, the more humble she becomes. She has remained consistently down-to-earth. She is talented but doesn’t like to admit it.”
Born to a powerful dynasty
Born in Sisaket on April 25, 1989, Traisuree graduated with a degree in international relations from Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science.
She made her political debut as a Bhumjaithai party-list candidate in the 2019 general election but failed to get elected.
However, she was appointed as a deputy spokesperson under Bhumjaithai’s quota in Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government. Four years on the front lines of Thailand’s tumultuous political scene helped sharpen her experience.
In 2022, Traisuree admitted that making her political debut as the government’s frontwoman was a daunting challenge.
Yet the rocky ride also offered opportunities to hone her skills at the highest level. She said growing up in a family of politicians had helped her adapt quickly to her new role.
“It’s almost impossible to distinguish between my personal life and my life in politics. I grew up surrounded by politics, and it has always been a part of my life,” she said.
Traisuree stood again in the 2023 general election as a Bhumjaithai list candidate but didn’t make it to Parliament.
However, in September that year, Anutin chose her as his secretary when he became interior minister after Bhumjaithai joined Srettha Thavisin’s Pheu Thai-led government.
She served in the post until mid-June this year, when Bhumjaithai quit Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ruling coalition.
Traisuree became registrar for Bhumjaithai in March last year, when the current executive board was elected at a party general assembly.
