By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PALANG PRACHARATH leader Prawit Wongsuwan will definitely run for prime minister again in an upcoming election, no matter if he may have a couple of running mates vying alongside for head of a future government.
The former deputy prime minister who was given an overwhelming support from today’s (Nov.29) general caucus of the Palang Pracharath to retain the top partisan leadership was named the No.1 partisan contestant for prime minister in the nationwide election which could possibly be held as soon as some time in the upcoming February.
The Palang Pracharath’s general caucus named Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong the party’s secretary-general in place of Paibul Nititawan who was named a deputy party leader.
However, it remains to be seen whether the military-installed party will have one other partisan contender or two to run for prime minister in addition to the party leader who said his camp will definitely not send electoral candidates contesting all 400 constituencies nationwide for MP seats.
Prawit was the only Palang Pracharath candidate for prime minister in the 2023 election in which his party won 39 constituency-based MP seats, plus one party-listed MP seat for himself.
The Palang Pracharath had been originally set up with a thinly-veiled design to keep former army chief-turned-coup leader Prayut Chan-o-cha in power as elected prime minister following the 2019 election.
Nevertheless, de facto Klatham boss Thammanat Prompao broke ranks with Prawit’s camp and led out half the Palang Pracharath MPs to join the Bhumjaithai-led coalition government with himself being named a deputy prime minister-cum-agriculture & cooperatives minister and a few others of his proteges assuming other ministerial seats.
Besides the Palang Pracharath leader, it remains to be seen whether current Democrat leader/former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will eventually contest without running mates for prime minister in the upcoming election whilst many of the 17 Democrat MPs currently representing southern constituencies are largely known to have planned to either leave for the ruling Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob or the Klatham, currently a coalition partner, and seek re-election under the tickets of their new camps.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is more or less inclined to dissolve the House of Representatives some time next month to call a general election in a 60-day time as provided by law or in the upcoming February with alleged intent to preempt censure debate which would probably be launched by the Pheu Thai, now part of the opposition bloc to which Abhisit’s camp is also currently attached.
CAPTION:
Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan addressing a party meeting, above, and entering the meeting room, Front Page. Both photos – Naewna
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