Thammanat named top leader of Thai Economic Party

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

MAVERICK MP Thammanat Prompao today (June 10) was named top leader of Thai Economic Party.

In an extraordinary caucus, Thammanat was unanimously voted as the top leader of Thai Economic Party whereas MP Pai Lik was named secretary-general of the “independent” party among a total of 22 members of its executive board.

Thammanat who has earlier performed as secretary-general of the party declined to tell whether he himself might be named a Thai Economic candidate for head of a post-election government, saying his camp still has time to think it over.

Thammanat and other Thai Economic MPs have never pledged to either support or oppose the Palang Pracharath-led coalition government’s performance, saying they would rather adopt their “independent” stand on a case-by-case basis.

Earlier this year, Thammanat led an exodus of 21 MPs from Palang Pracharath Party where he had performed as secretary-general following some uncompromisable conflict between his faction and those among the rank and file of the largest coalition party.

Nevertheless, only 14 out of the 21 “rebellious” MPs are currently attached to Thai Economic Party whilst the others have finally defected to others.

Thammanat has been obviously opposed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha since he was apparently blamed for an alleged hush-hush plot for certain coalition MPs to deny votes in support for the premier during last year’s censure/no-confidence motion. Consequently, in a surprise cabinet reshuffle, Thammanat was dismissed as deputy agriculture & cooperatives minister alongside Naruemon Pinyosinwat as deputy labour minister. 

CAPTIONS:  

Top: Thammanat Prompao at today’s Thai Economic Party meeting where he was named top leader. Photo: Pptvhd36.com

Front Page: Thammanat Prompao speaking to the press recently. Photo: INN News

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