Thamanat Featured Among Key Ministerial Candidates
PUBLISHED: 26 Aug 2024 at 20:28
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has officially submitted a letter to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, urging her to relay her list of ministerial appointments to Pol Gen Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, a frontrunner for the role of natural resources and environment minister.
In the correspondence, the coalition party reaffirmed its support for Ms. Shinawatra as prime minister and presented four MPs from the Srettha government for retention in the upcoming administration.
The proposed ministers include Pol Gen Phatcharavat as natural resources and environment minister, Capt Thamanat Prompow as agriculture and cooperatives minister, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn as deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister, and Santi Promphat as deputy public health minister.
PPRP leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has submitted the ministerial candidate list to Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, the PM’s secretary-general. In the event that any of the four candidates are deemed ineligible by the ruling party, Gen Wongsuwon will find suitable replacements.
According to reports, the party indicated that Pol Gen Phatcharavat has yet to receive necessary documents for background checks. To expedite these checks, the PPRP has requested that the prime minister instruct the cabinet secretariat to ensure these documents are sent promptly.
Denial of Negotiations with Democrats
Amidst speculation, Capt Thamanat, the PPRP secretary-general, has denied engaging in discussions with a major faction within the opposition Democrat Party regarding potential cabinet seat agreements. This clarification follows rumors suggesting he had submitted a separate list of nominated PPRP MPs to Pheu Thai.
Dr. Prommin also noted that several parties have yet to finalize their ministerial candidate submissions, prompting background checks on those already put forward.
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated he anticipates the formation of the new cabinet by the end of this month, enabling the government to present its policy statement before parliament by September 15.
If Capt Thamanat is ultimately deemed ineligible, Narumon Pinyosinwat, leader of the lesser-known Kla Dharma Party and a former key member of the PPRP, is slated to be appointed as agriculture and cooperatives minister.
