By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FOUR CABINET MEMBERS today resigned en masse, paving way for an imminent reshuffle by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Somkid Jatusripitak resigned as deputy prime minister, Uttama Savanayana as finance minister, Sontirat Sontijirawong as energy minister and Suvit Maesincee as higher education, science, research and innovation minister.
Uttama, Sontirat and Suvit have been known as members of the so-called Si Kumarn (”four infants”) faction inside the ruling Palang Pracharath Party from which they had earlier resigned as party members. Somkid has been viewed as de facto head of the crumbling faction.
Kobsak Pootrakul, the other Si Kumarn faction member, also resigned as deputy secretary general to the prime minister.
Uttama and Sontirat earlier resigned as leader and secretary general of the Palang Pracharath Party respectively, following the naming of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as new party leader and the setting up of a new executive board of the party in which they were no longer included.
Prayut is yet to reshuffle his cabinet shortly with old faces and new ones being considered.
CAPTION:
Top: Somkid Jatusripitak resigned as deputy prime minister today as did the “Si Kumarn” faction members. Thai headline says, “no comment.” File photo: INN News published by Sanook.com
