Internal conflict within Palang Pracharat, Thailand’s core government party, was resolved at a meeting on Wednesday between the party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, and the party’s MPs, according to Wirat Rattanaseth, the party’s deputy leader today (Thursday).
The rift pitted one powerful faction, led by party secretary-general Thammanat Prompao, against another loyal to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, over the no-confidence vote in August, during which some of the party’s MPs abstained from voting for the prime minister.
Thammanat later resigned as deputy agriculture minister.
Wirat said he believes Thammanat’s faction will be able to work with the other group and both will cooperate in changing the party’s structure to make the party more relevant to the current situation, with Thammanat’s position as the party’s secretary-general remaining intact.
He said there is no need to blame any faction or MP for causing the conflict, adding that, from now on, all party members must unite and work in harmony.
He declined to comment on whether General Prawit had threatened to quit as party leader if the internal rift is not resolved peacefully.
When asked the same question by a reporter at Government House today, General Prawit shot back “What?” and walked away.
