Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has distanced himself from the latest internal strife within the ruling Palang Pracharat party, as 18 members of the executive committee resign en masse to pave the way for the election of the new executive committee, party leader and secretary-general.

Repeatedly asked by reporters about speculation that the resignations were intended to replace party leader Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also the party’s chief strategist, the Prime Minister refused to comment, noting that it is an internal affair and quite normal for every political party.

He said that he does not want to make excuses, adding that he will not get involved in internal party politics, unless it concerns the Government or the coalition’s stability.

He also said that the conflict within the Palang Pracharat party should be settled by party members, without the need for him to get involved, as he asked the media not to dramatize the issue.

The Prime Minister also made it clear that the changes to the executive committee is a separate issue from Cabinet appointments, which concern all parties in the coalition.

“Be cool, don’t be temperamental. I have been very calm so far because it won’t do any good for me to get upset,” said the Prime Minister, adding that he has to prepare to address the House of Representatives on Thursday about the rearrangement of the 2020 fiscal budget bill.

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem said that most Palang Pracharat party members have no objection to General Prawit being elected party leader.

He maintained that a change of the party’s executive committee is a normal process.