A wave of employment resignations by legislators and public-enterprise executives is fuelling speculation that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will announce his cabinet as early as Friday.
The National Legislative Assembly convenes on Thursday although four members resigned. Three of them are tipped to become cabinet ministers. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
Gen Prayuth said Monday the cabinet would be finalised by next month, but Thursday's resignations of four National Legislative Assembly members, a PTT board member and Mcot's chairman have assembly members and other political players saying the roster of ministers will be unveiled sooner, rather than later.
Former Bank of Thailand governor Pridiyathorn Devakula resigned from his position as chairman of the board of Post Publishing, the company said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand Thursday. The company is the publisher of Bangkok Post, Post Today and other dailies.
The resignation means he effectively ends his role of Post chairman.
MR Pridiyathorn is widely tipped to be a deputy prime minister overseeing economic policy for the government of Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha. He is chief economic adviser of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
Stepping down Thursday from the NLA were members Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Narongchai Akrasanee, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, and Dr Rajata Rajatanavin. NLA acting secretary-general Norarat Pimsen said their resignations, which left the assembly with 193 members, took effect immediately.
Also resigning were Mcot board chairman and permanent secretary for defence Surasak Kanchanarat, and PTT board member Pornchai Rujiprapa. Another Mcot board member, permanent secretary for the PM's Office ML Panadda Diskul, had to come out publicly to deny he also had quit.
Three of the four NLA members who resigned Thursday are expected to join the cabinet. To be eligible, they cannot be NLA or reform council members and cannot sit on the soon-to-be-formed panel to draft a permanent constitution.
Mr Narongchai, secretary-general for the National Economic and Social Development Board, has been tipped as energy minister. Dr Rajata, Mahidol University's rector, is expected to take over as public health minister. And Ms Kobkarn, chairwoman of Toshiba Thailand, is a candidate for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, multiple sources said.
Mr Narongchai, who also is an advisor to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), additionally is expected to be named a deputy prime minister.
Gen Surasak, meanwhile, likely will be named labour minister and Mr Pornchai will take the top post at the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, sources said.
An NLA source said the cabinet lineup could be unveiled on Friday after it is approved that day by His Majesty the King.
The cabinet comprises the prime minister and no more than 35 members. Gen Prayuth, who also is army chief and head of the ruling junta, said Wednesday that five seats will be allotted to deputy prime ministers.
Another candidate for the new cabinet is MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, the NCPO's economic chief advisor. He is expected to be the deputy prime minister overseeing economic affairs.
MR Pridiyathorn has resigned as a Post Publishing director, the company said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Thursday.