#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Seven small govt coalition parties endorse Mongkolkit for minister

Politics

Jun 22. 2020Mongkolkit Suksintharanon

By THE NATION

Seven small parties within the government coalition have proposed that its candidate, Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, be considered for a ministerial position in case the government wants to reshuffle the Cabinet, Phichet Sathirachawan, partly list MP and leader of the Thai People Justice Party, said today (June 22).

“In the past year there has been no minister from any of the 11 small parties that joined the coalition,” he pointed out. “As the person with the highest seniority among all small party leaders, I would like to propose Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, party-list MP and leader of the Thai Civilized Party, for a ministerial position.”

Phichet said that having a minister from a small party would help drive forward the policies that these parties have promised their voters. He chose Mongkolkit for being “a new generation politician with an impressive track record and one who will prove to be a suitable candidate for minister”.

Mongkolkit, who served as secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Network, is an advocate of anti-corruption, government reform and social justice.

“The seven small parties that have endorsed Mongkolkit are the Thai People Justice Party, the Thai Civilized Party, the Tairaktham Party, the Thai Nation Power Party, the Thai Teachers for People Party, the Phalang Thai Rak Thai Party and the Prachaniyom Party,” Phichet added. “We will leave the decision to the prime minister but will remain in the government coalition whatever the outcome.”

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Palang Pracharat ‘poised to win’ Lampang by-election

Politics

Jun 21. 2020

By The Nation

Palang Pracharat Party was in celebration mode after unofficial counts showed its candidate winning the by-election in Lampang province.

The Election Commission is yet to make am official announcement.

Several residents came to vote in the election on June 20, following the preventive measures in place to prevent Covid-19.

Unofficial results showed Palang Pracharat candidate Wattana Sitwang polling 61,980 votes followed by Pol Lieutenant Somboon Klapachon from the opposition Seri Ruam Thai Party.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao and his team are working on a statement over their success in the Lampang by-election.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Netizens fear Move Forward MP Rangsiman may be next target for speaking up

Politics

Jun 19. 2020

By The Nation
Kunanon Kanjanatecha

The top trending Twitter hashtag on Friday (June 19) was #saveRome (#saveโรม) after rumours began doing the rounds that Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome may be the next person to mysteriously disappear like pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit did on June 4.

On Thursday, Rangsiman proposed a new draft to amend the Public Administration in Emergency Situation law, saying he does not agree with the government’s decision to continue keeping the country under a state of emergency.

This move adds to a list of other actions he has taken against this government, prompting concerns among netizens that the powers-that-be may be angry with him and may target him next.

Rangsiman, meanwhile, tweeted on Friday that he was working with a House committee studying constitutional amendments and will also look into corruption in the Army, which was reported by a soldier.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Uttama insists his heart belongs to Palang Pracharat even if he loses ministerial post

Politics

Jun 19. 2020

By The Nation

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, who is also acting leader of the core coalition party Palang Pracharat, said that he has no plans to leave the party even if he loses his ministerial portfolio.

He made the comment after attending a party meeting on Friday (June 19). The party is planning to come together again on June 27 at IMPACT Arena to discuss the budget and other pertinent topics.

The minister also said he was not too concerned if he is not able to make it to the “big meeting”, because everything is proceeding in line with the party’s regulations. He added that he preferred not to make any comments about the upcoming meeting.

As for the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle, he said all ministers were focused on solving the Covid-19 crisis and that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will make an announcement if he sees the need for a reshuffle. He went on to say that he has never thought about leaving the party, emphasising that his “heart resides in the same place”.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Don’t think about politics, police chief warns youth

Politics

Jun 19. 2020Chakthip Chaijinda

By The Nation

National police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda on Friday (June 19) warned young people against taking political sides, saying they may be violating the Criminal Code’s sections 112 and 116.

He also denied rumours that he was thinking about entering politics by running in the Bangkok gubernatorial elections after retirement.

He added that no political party had approached him, and that he was afraid “politics will bite”.

The police chief also voiced concern that Thai youngsters may be paying heed to information that violates the national security law or messages aired by political activists who are facing charges under the Computer Crimes Act.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Palang Pracharat pursues Prawit to take the party reins

Politics

Jun 19. 2020Prawit Wongsuwan

By The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan will be requested to take over as leader of Palang Pracharat Party after the executive board is elected, senior party officials said.

Uttama Savanayana is currently acting leader of the party.

Government chief whip and Palang Pracharat MP Wirat Rattanaset said on Friday (June 19) that before the party’s meeting on June 23, senior party leaders and other members will go to Government House to personally invite Prawit to take over as party leader. They plan to meet him in the morning before the Cabinet meeting starts.

The name of the new leader will be proposed at the big meeting on June 27.

Wirat said Prawit’s wide acceptability would help unite the party that is having conflicts and make it even stronger so that the public’s confidence in Palang Pracharat is restored.

When asked whether Prawit would serve as leader only until problems in the party are resolved, he said Prawit would continue as leader even after that.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Bhumjaithai’s Anutin open to Cabinet reshuffle

Politics

Jun 19. 2020Anutin Charnvirakul

By The Nation

Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is willing to accept a reshuffle of the Cabinet, though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has so far not spoken a word on the matter.

The Bhumjaithai party leader said on Friday (June 19) that he was not so concerned about an adjustment of ministers’ seats since any such decision was up to the premier.

When reporters also asked him about moves by other parties to propose their members as new ministers, Anutin reacted with a big laugh.

“No problem,” he said before leaving to attend to the Cabinet meeting.

Factions within the core coalition Palang Pracharat Party are thought to be fighting for control over the most lucrative seats in Cabinet after a Bt1.9-trillion stimulus package was launched by the government.

Bhumjaithai benefited when nine MPs from the dissolved Future Forward Party joined its ranks in February, theoretically increasing the party’s bargaining power for Cabinet seats.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

‘Weak democracy has lowered Thailand’s competitiveness ranking’

Politics

Jun 18. 2020Anusorn Eamsaard

By The Nation

Thailand’s falling economic competitiveness is due to a lack of democracy in the country, the main opposition party said on Thursday (June 18).

Pheu Thai spokesperson Anusorn Eamsaard made the claim after Thailand dropped four places in IMD’s global competitiveness rankings this week, from 25th to 29th. The main reasons for the drop were a decline in the scores for economic performance and government efficiency.

“This shows that the coalition government – which most political parties have joined – has caused the country’s competitiveness, in terms of economic conditions, fiscal status, government performance, and ability to attract foreign investment, to drop sharply,” said Anusorn.

He said the government should deliver a development plan in line with changing trends, and that to do so, democracy must be strengthened

“The government should also provide support for new entrepreneurs as well,” he said. “If the 20-year national strategy does not work, the government must … change the strategy.”

He added that if the government was too afraid to change, the country’s competitiveness could drop further.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

EC finishes zoning in preparation for provincial polls

Politics

Jun 18. 2020

By THE NATION

Zoning has been completed in 19 provinces as a step towards holding elections for the provincial administrative organisation.

The announcement of the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand was published in the Royal Gazette website on Wednesday (June 18).

The announcement, signed by EC chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong on June 17, said that the 19 provinces where the commission had finished zoning for the election were: Krabi, Chai Nat, Chumphon, Trang, Trad, Nakhon Pathom, Prachin Buri, Pattani, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Phuket, Yala, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri and Surat Thani.

The EC also added that any new subdistricts, villages or communities that emerge after this announcement would be considered a part of the subdistricts, villages or communities that they separated from.

Earlier this week the EC revealed that it had earmarked Bt800 million for local elections nationwide and was ready to organise the elections upon receiving the greenlight from the government.

The announcement of election zoning signals that local elections will soon be held in these provinces; no local elections have been held for the past six years of General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s rule.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Charter court takes on case of revoking Thammanat’s MP status

Politics

Jun 17. 2020

By The Nation

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday (June 17) took on the case of Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao to see if his MP status should be revoked.

The minister has been given 15 days to come up with a counter argument.

Thammanat is being attacked by the opposition in relation to a court case in Australia, in which he was charged and sentenced to six years in jail for importing and trafficking drugs in the 1990s. He served four years in jail Down Under before being deported to Thailand. According to the Constitution’s Article 98 (10), no MP or minister can serve office if they have a criminal record.