The rebel faction within the Palang Pracharath party has submitted a list of three proposed ministers to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The list does not include Thammanat Prompao, the faction’s leader.
The three proposed ministers are Akkara Prompao, younger brother of Thammanat, Narumon Pinyosinwat, former deputy labour minister in the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha and leader of Kla Tham party, and Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, the caretaker deputy agriculture minister.
It is reported that Thammanat’s name was excluded to spare Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra the risk that Thammanat’s previous criminal record could raise issues similar to those which resulted in her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin’s removal from office.
Thammanat spent four years in a prison in Sydney, Australia, on a drug trafficking conviction during the 1990s. Thammanat has claimed, however, that the substance was, in fact, flour.
Phai Lik, an MP for Kamphaeng Phet and a member of Thammanat faction, said today that the cabinet seats for the faction should correspond with the number of MPs allied with the faction.
The faction claims to have 26 MPs under its wing, against General Prawit Wongsuwan’s 14.
Meanwhile, the Palang Pracharath party issued a statement today, saying that it had submitted a list of four proposed ministers to the prime minister through Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime minister’s secretary-general.
They are Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan as deputy prime minister and minister of natural resources and environment, Thammanat as agriculture minister, Santi Promphat as public health minister and Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn as deputy agriculture minister.
Dr. Prommin said today he had received the lists of prospective ministers from all the coalition parties and they will all be vetted by the Royal Thai Police, the Securities Exchange Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
If there are legal questions concerning individuals, he said the Council of State will be consulted, adding that the decision on the final appointments rests with the prime minister.
