Former Commerce Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan has formally joined the Palang Pracharath Party, reportedly to head its economic team.

He was officially presented to the media today by Palang Pracharath Party Leader Prawit Wongsuwan, also deputy prime minister, who personally welcomed him to the party.

Mingkwan said he was invited by General Prawit to join to fill a place in the party’s economic team and that he had told Prawit that, if he is to take part in any premiership pre-election debates on economics, he will need to be one of the candidates.

He claimed that General Prawit had promised to consult the party about making him one of the party’s three candidates for the next premiership. General Prawit later explained, however, that he is not sure that Mingkwan would be nominated, but that he will consult the party.

Mingkwan quit the New Economics Party in June to set up his own party, Okart Thai (Thai Opportunity), to contest the next election.

He said he would like to take this opportunity to clear up any misunderstanding about his reputation for switching parties, ending up with the Palang Pracharath Party today (Tuesday).

He insisted that his joining the Palang Pracharath Party is because he wants to help the party on economic issues, adding that he will not accept any post on the party’s executive committee.

Two former Democrat MPs are also set to join the Palang Pracharath Party next week. They are Anwar Salae of Pattani Province and Nipit Intarasombut, who quit the Democrat Party last December and subsequently joined the Sarng Anakot Thai Party.