By Thai Newsroom Reporters
FORMER DEPUTY PRIME minister Pridiyathorn Devakula could probably be a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha if he was named head of the current government’s economic cabinet, partisan sources said over the weekend.
Pridiyathorn who performed as deputy premier in charge of financial and treasury affairs under a coup junta-installed government headed by the army chief-turned-premier Prayut and resigned after nearly a year in office in 2015 has been recommended by some Palang Pracharath MPs as head of the government’s economic cabinet in place of Prayut who concurrently assumes the post.
The former deputy premier who had earlier acted as governor of the Bank and Thailand and finance minister in previous governments prior to the Prayut regime frustratedly called it quits from the Prayut government barely a year after he had served the military government.
If Pridiyathorn, who had earlier voiced dissent to the Prayut government’s ways and means of handling of economic and financial issues, was finally named head of the government’s economic ministers, he could virtually become a thorn in the side of the premier, the partisan sources said.
Following his resignation as deputy premier, Pridiyathorn made straightforward comments online to say Prayut was no longer suitable and competent to run the country.
Prayut has remained tight-lipped when asked to comment if he may agree or disagree to the reported plan of the Palang Pracharath MPs to bring Pridiyathorn back to work again as head of the current government’s economic cabinet.
But Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Palang Pracharath top leader Prawit Wongsuwan welcomed the possible return of the former deputy premier saying he once proved himself as a competent executive official in government who could come back and cope with today’s economic problems.
Prawit’s camp has been apparently pressed to promptly work out solutions to the people’s economic hardships and secure popular support for their partisan contestants vying for MP in the general election speculated to occur early next year.
The latest movement among the rank and file of the largest coalition partner more or less affecting the premier who has been allowed by court to prolong his rule until 2025 apparently followed persistent calls of a Palang Pracharath MP for Prayut to apply himself as member of the ruling party sooner than later amidst hearsay that he might probably be named a partisan candidate for head of a post-election government by another camp such as the brand-new Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party.
Some Palang Pracharath MPs have earlier advised that not only Prayut but Prawit and another person become a trio of partisan candidates for head of government in the next general election unlike the 2019 race to parliament when Prayut was solely named by Prawit’s camp.
CAPTIONS:
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, right in above photo and at left in Front Page photo, and former deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Thai Rath
Also read: Prayut mum on Pridiyathorn leading Palang Pracharath’s economic team
Prawit urged to stop giving aid to ‘two-faced’ MPs
Korn named top leader of Chart Pattana Kla Party
Some 50 MPs to go party-hopping during run-up to election
Thai central bank raises rates, willing to adjust tightening as necessary
One Reply to “Pridiyathorn could be thorn in Prayut’s side”