Kongsampong Khumpai
Kongsampong Khumpai | |
|---|---|
| คงสมพงษ์ คุ้มภัย | |
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| 11th President of Kaona | |
| Assumed office 14th February 2022 | |
| Premier | Xaisomboun Thonemany |
| Preceded by | Lursakdi Sonakul |
| Prime Minister of Kaona | |
| In office 16nd April 2010 – 14th February 2014 | |
| President | Chakthip Khaopa |
| Preceded by | Prapat Kongkran |
| Succeeded by | Ananada Keacham |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 14th February 2006 – 20th May 2012 | |
| Premier | Prapat Kongkran Himself |
| Preceded by | Paponsan Nitpattanasai |
| Succeeded by | Tosanakorn Visalyaputra |
| In office 17th October 1996 – 22nd April 2004 | |
| Premier | Khamphaeng Xayadeth Thanin Kittipromwong Chakthip Khaopa |
| Preceded by | Keetau Sansurin |
| Succeeded by | Paponsan Nitpattanasai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 22, 1958 Phuko, Kaona |
| Political party | Chart Pattana Party |
| Spouse | Mayuree Pimolkittikool |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Phuko |
Kongsampong Khumpai (Kaonese: คงสมพงษ์ คุ้มภัย) is a Kaonese politician who has served as the President of Kaona since February 2022. He is also Kaona's longest serving Finance Minister serving on two non-consectutive stints from 1996 to 2004 and 2006 to 2012. From 2010 to 2014 Khumpai also served as Prime Minister. A longtime ally of former president Chakthip Khaopa Khumpai is a member of the centre-right Chart Pattana Party.
Educated at the University of Phuko Khumpai worked in global banks until he became an unofficial economic adviser to prime minister Khaopa in 1993, working on the CPP party platform in the 1993-94 Kaonese general election. After Khaopa's victory Khumpai continuned to work in an advisory role for the president and in 1996 would be appointed as Finance Minister. Serving in the role for the next eight years Khumpai would pursue a policy of privatisation, deregulation and economic liberalisation alongside a tight fiscal and monetary policy. Khumpai's reforms would lead to growth after a period of initial contraction, with government spending rising steadily on development programmes in the latter half of his tenure. After the dismissal of the Khaopa government by president Thanin Kittipromwong Khumpai remained loyal to Khaopa and the CPP, returning to the Finance Ministry in 2006 when Khaopa returned to the presidency.
In his second stint as finance minister Khumpai would take a more interventionist approach approving of several mega-projects and fuelling a construction industry boom. However anti-poverty measures would largely be ignored and under his tenure both the debt and deficit increased. Following the controversial 2010 elections Khaopa would appoint Khumpai prime minister with the task of overseeing national reconciliation and economic development. Khumpai would be seen as a largely low key and technocratic prime minister resigning from the role after the CPP lost the 2014 elections. Following his resignation Khumpai would serve on the board of the KICB, the largest bank in Kaona.
In the runup to the 2021-22 Kaonese general election the CPP nominated Khumpai for the presidency. Running on a centre right platform Khumpai would win the second round at 52.3% of the vote against the People's Democrat Party (PDP) candidate Kowit Thammarojphinij. He would form a grand coalition of the CPP and PDP appointing PDP chairman Xaisomboun Thonemany as prime minister.
Over his career Khumpai has been accused of corruption. Since 2020 he has been implicated in the Udomdejchak scandal over favourable construction contracts given to CPP-aligned firms. As president Khumpai has presidential immunity.