A Palang Pracharath Party MP is urging Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to become an executive member of the PPRP to seek out potential members with economic expertise and help with internal affairs ahead of the general election.
The party faces difficulty in recruiting economic experts from state agencies or even the Bank of Thailand, said Nakhon Sawan PPRP MP Weerakorn Khamprakob said on Saturday.
"Gen Prayut must join party executives to work with the party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon to draft the party's policies," he said.
"He can't just stand there and know nothing about the party's issues. Gen Prayut must work with Gen Prawit... as we only have 5–6 months left [before the election]," he said.
When asked about the two vacant cabinet seats, Mr Weerakorn said the party will not propose filling the seats, to avoid possible internal conflicts ahead of the general election. The news comes despite calls among junior coalition partners that they be replaced.
Capt Thamanat Prompow, ex-secretary-general of the PPRP, was sacked from the deputy agriculture and cooperative minister position, while PPRP member Narumon Pinyosinwat was sacked in September last year from the deputy labour minister position.
The PPRP has not appointed anyone to replace them.
In other news, Gen Prawit yesterday said the PPRP will promote its three-pillar policy during the general election season, which aims to tackle issues surrounding welfare, economy and society.
He said the party's three-pillar policy can help people and elevate the quality of life by focusing on economic improvements and ensuring state welfare programmes are accessible to every citizen.
He said he hopes the policy will satisfy everyone.
The public is expected to help steer the policies, with each having the ability to indicate how much funds is required for a project, he said.
"The party stresses the importance of the development of people as it considers it a social investment to build the future of the country," he said.