“Attack is the best form of defence” appears to be Ekkapob Pianpises’ motto in his new role as government spokesperson. Emulating Premier League football teams, Ekkapob has adopted a combative approach to shield the administration and the prime minister from criticism – a sharp contrast to his predecessor, Rachada Dhnadirek.
Rachada’s dismissal followed complaints from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul that “poor communication” was contributing to his government’s declining popularity.
Anutin said spokespersons' teams across the government and coalition parties were failing to explain the administration’s achievements or present them in terms the public could understand.
Observers said the prime minister was often left to defend himself and his administration single-handedly, while Rachada focused on publicising policy rollouts rather than countering political critics. Though Rachada pledged to improve her team’s communication strategy, the leadership opted for a change of direction.
On September 8, the Cabinet approved Ekkapob as the new face of the government. Rachada was transferred to her old post of vice minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, where she oversees women’s affairs in the southern provinces.
Ekkapob wasted no time adapting to his new role. He has aggressively repulsed criticism and allegations targeting major government projects and key Cabinet members from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party across press conferences, interviews, and social media.
'Clear and quick'
The 50-year-old spokesman said his core duty is to present hard facts to counter “half-truths and fake news” used against the government.
“From day one, we focus on delivering accurate information to prevent ill-intentioned people from causing public misunderstanding,” Ekkapob said.
To boost efficiency, he stated that his team would gather information directly from ministries before breaking it down for public consumption.
He also dismissed talk that his predecessor’s work was flawed. “Her team showcased what the government, ministries, the prime minister, and deputy prime ministers were doing. What we are adding is a new dimension of storytelling. Instead of just providing data, we are gathering information and presenting the truth quickly.”
Ekkapob was also confident he could handle attacks from the opposition People’s Party, pointing out that he has experience as a lawmaker with both of its predecessors. He said he understood the “style of working” and “political manoeuvring” it had inherited from the “Orange” opposition movement.
An original Orange MP
Born on January 15, 1976, Ekkapob earned both his bachelor’s degree and doctorate in medicine from Prince of Songkla University.
He launched his career in 2001 as a doctor at a government-run hospital in Chiang Rai’s Thoeng district. After nine years at the local rural hospital, he moved to the provincial Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital.
He later served as a resident physician at Mae Fah Luang University’s medical school and worked at two private hospitals in the northernmost province.
In 2009, club president Miti Tiyapairat invited Ekkapob to become the official team physician for Chiangrai United. His reputation soared among Thai football fans when he took the role of team physician for the national youth squad – the “War Elephants” – earning him the nickname “Mor Chang Suek” (“The War Elephants’ Doctor”).
In late 2018, Ekkapob moved into politics, joining a new party called Future Forward after being impressed by the progressive “new politics” of its founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
At the 2019 election, he contested for a Chiang Rai seat and pulled off a stunning upset, defeating two veteran politicians. Following the Constitutional Court’s dissolution of Future Forward in 2020, Ekkapob moved alongside fellow MPs to its new incarnation, Move Forward.
However, his relationship with the party reportedly became strained after he refused to back its push to amend the lèse-majesté law or Article 112.
He left Move Forward to join Bhumjaithai in 2022 but failed in his bid for re-election a year later. He fell short again in last February’s election, when he ran as a Bhumjaithai list candidate.
However, his loyalty eventually paid off. After Bhumjaithai leader Anutin became prime minister, Ekkapob was appointed as a vice minister serving under the PM’s Office Minister, Paradorn Prissananantakul.
By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk
