Patcharawat shrugs off hearsay over Palang Pracharath leadership

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER-CUM-NATURAL Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan today (Sep.5) shrugged off sustained speculation that he might probably replace his elder brother Prawit Wongsuwan as Palang Pracharath leader anytime soon.

Patcharawat, a former police chief and Palang Pracharath partisan counsel, categorically dismissed hearsay that he might probably replace the former deputy prime minister as Palang Pracharath leader in the foreseeable future.

But Patcharawat did not either confirm or deny that Prawit who had run in vain for prime minister in the May 14 election might probably resign as MP though he may still hold onto the partisan leadership.

Either Deputy Public Health Minister Santi Prompat or former digital economy & society minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn would become a party-listed MP for whom no by-election will be held in place of Prawit if he eventually called it quits as a lawmaker.

Prawit is the only elected candidate of the third largest coalition partner vying in party-listed mode whilst 39 others of the same camp were elected in constituency-based mode.

The Palang Pracharath leader has earlier remarked that he has already closed his home in the premises of the First Infantry Regiment to politically-minded visitors, capping a decade and a half of playing the role of a kingmaker.

Prawit who had successfully manipulated the naming of two prime ministers, namely former Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2008 and de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2019, has categorically declined to take a seat of deputy prime minister or any other in the current Pheu Thai-led cabinet under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin following last May’s election.

Given his privileges as former army chief, Prawit has been granted the home, inaptly named Baan Pa Roy Tor Ha Chang Wat and literally translating as “five provinces bordering home”, to stay to date in the army barracks on Vibhavadi Rangsit road alongside the likes of former interior minister Anupong Paojinda and Prayut who had also assumed the top army echelon at separate intervals.

However, Prawit confirmed that the office of his non-political foundation, named Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation, is open as normal.

CAPTIONS:

Deputy Prime Minister and Natural Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan. Top photo: Matichon, Front Page photo: Naewna

Insert: Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan. Photo: Thai Rath

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