Thamanat takes key job from Anucha

Thamanat takes key job from Anucha

Ex-convict wins PPRP promotion

Thamanat: No challengers for post
Thamanat: No challengers for post

Capt Thamanat Prompow, a highly controversial figure in the government, was yesterday selected as the secretary-general of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. It had been widely anticipated.

"My first job? I'll have to think about that but we'll move forward as a party," said Capt Thamanat, who is also the deputy agriculture and cooperatives minister.

"Some people see us as divisive but that will be a thing of the past."

Capt Thamanat expressed confidence that the PPRP under the leadership of Gen Prawit Wongsuwon would win the largest number of House seats at the next general election and form a government.

He had been nominated to replace Anucha Nakasai as secretary-general at the PPRP's general assembly in Khon Kaen, where Gen Prawit's resignation as PPRP leader was announced, paving the way for the leadership to be revamped.

Gen Prawit was then re-elected unopposed as party leader with 582 votes and Capt Thamanat was named secretary-general with 556 votes.

Gen Prawit was first elected PPRP leader in June last year, also in an uncontested race that uprooted people close to the previous leadership.

The Constitutional Court ruled in May that Capt Thamanat was qualified to hold his position as deputy minister despite having served four years in an Australian prison during the nineties relating to a heroin smuggling case.

Mr Anucha withdrew from the party secretary-general contest, saying he had been in the post for one year and wanted to give others a chance. Capt Thamanat was nominated for the post unchallenged.

In the new structure, the number of party executives was reduced from 27 to a maximum of 26.

Gen Prawit did not attend the meeting, despite turning up in the province and meeting key party figures at a local hotel, after which he reportedly returned to Bangkok.

It was reported that Sam Mitr group members left the meeting without waiting for the vote count.

Somsak Thepsuthin, a key figure of the Sam Mitr faction, congratulated the new party executives on their appointments, saying Gen Prawit and Capt Thamanat, who had close ties, would be able to move the party forward.

"I'm willing to support the party. The internal revamp is to prepare the party for the election and it is the party's best hope of winning," he said.

Mr Somsak played down speculation of a cabinet reshuffle following the party leadership change and insisted that his group had not lost its political clout, as some have claimed.

Mr Anucha said there had been no internal conflicts and he had no attachment to the post.

Twenty-two people were selected as party executives, most of them familiar faces. Narumon Pinyosinwat was chosen as treasurer and Boonsing Warinrak as party registrar.

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