NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij has been crowned the new leader of the Chart Pattana Kla Party, replacing Tewan Liptapanlop.
Mr Tewan announced his resignation as the party's general assembly began in Muang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, yesterday.
Tewan: Serves as secretary-general
Mr Tewan's resignation cleared the way for the party to elect a new 30-member executive committee. The executive committee of the Chart Pattana Party, renamed Chart Pattana Kla Party at an earlier party meeting on Sept 26, will be scrapped.
Mr Korn, who was the only candidate nominated for the top party post, was elected the new leader. Wacharapon Tomornsak and Atthawit Suwanphakdi will be his deputy leaders.
Other executives include Mr Tewan as secretary-general and Korbsak Sabhavasu as chair of the strategy committee. Suwat Liptapanlop, the older brother of Mr Tewan, remains party chair.
Mr Suwat spoke about the party's preparations for the general election and improvements to the party's image, including a new logo. Mr Korn was finance minister from Dec 20, 2008–Aug 9, 2011 in the Democrat-led government, with Abhisit Vejjajiva as prime minister.
In January 2020 he resigned from the Democrat Party to set up the Kla Party, with himself as the leader. He then joined the Chart Pattana Party, which has been renamed Chart Pattana Kla.
Upon assuming the leadership Mr Korn vowed several major changes under economic development policies which the party will roll out at the coming election.
"It's time to revamp the entire economic structure of the country, think outside the box, create a million more jobs, and generate more income through the so-called creative economy," he said.
Thais will be supported in online efforts to sell products to the world, while the middle class will pay less income tax and have more money left in their pockets after a revision of the current tax base, he said.
He said the government would also dare confront giant energy companies in demanding lower energy prices, which make up part of the cost of every product and service, he said.