By Thai Newsroom Reporters
SEVEN MEMBERS OF CABINET have resigned as members of a disintegrated Palang Pracharath Party’s executive board in a fresh bid to press for the setting up of a new one with the planned ouster of Thammanat Prompow as secretary-general of the largest coalition partner in government.
But the seven Palang Pracharath cabinet members plus one Palang Pracharath MP who have resigned from the ruling party’s executive board were yet short of a minimum number to warrant the picking of a new executive board in which the secretary-general may remain intact or be replaced.
The Palang Pracharath cabinet members who have called it quits from the party’s executive board included Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Finance Minister Santi Prompat, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, Culture Minister Ittipol Khunpluem, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Anucha Nakhasai and Digital Economy & Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn.
Except for the culture minister, these cabinet members held talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House for about an hour on Monday with alleged intent to push for the planned ouster of Thammanat from the post of the party’s secretary-general.
Thammanat is invariably feared by pro-Prayut elements to stand in the way of the premier’s desire to prolong his rule for five more years from now whereas significant government legislations are yet to be approved by the House of Representatives during an upcoming parliamentary term, beginning on Nov. 1.
Meanwhile, a minimum of one-half of the total of the executive board members is needed to warrant the setting up of a new executive board which could probably take place as soon as tomorrow (Oct. 28).
Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan telephoned many Palang Pracharath MPs and other executive board members advising them to not resign en masse only to seek the ouster of Thammanat as party secretary-general.
The ruling party is scheduled to hold a meeting of its executive board members and MPs tomorrow.
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Top: Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan.
Home Page: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Photos: Siam Rath
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