PM rules out Prasong as finance minister option

PM rules out Prasong as finance minister option

The new finance minister will be announced next week, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday.

He also ended speculation that outgoing finance permanent secretary Prasong Poontaneat could be the new finance minister.

He said the new finance minister will be a familiar name, but it will not be Mr Prasong. Gen Prayut said reports that Mr Prasong, former transport minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith and Krairit Euchukanonchai were in the running for the job were not correct. Mr Krairit is board chairman of PTT Plc and Krungthai Bank.

Mr Prasong fuelled speculation that he could be in the race when he tendered his resignation last week, a move seen by some as preparation for taking a cabinet post.

A new finance minister is needed to fill the seat left vacant by Predee Daochai, former president of Kasikornbank, who resigned unexpectedly as finance minister after less than a month in the job. Mr Predee made a shock announcement on Sept 1 he was quitting the minister post, citing illness as the reason. His resignation took effect on Sept 2.

Media reports suggested Mr Predee and Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat were at odds over filling top positions at agencies under the ministry.

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