Pheu Thai to elect new executives on Oct 16

Acting secretary-general declines to assume on Cholnan’s potential son.

Pheu Thai to elect new executives on Oct 16
At a briefing held to announce Dr. Cholnan’s resignation as party leader on August 30, Prasert Chantararuangthong( right ), caretaker secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, joins deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai( centre ). Pheu Thai Party( picture )

Caretaker party secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong announced on Friday that the Pheu Thai Party will hold a public assembly on October 16 to choose opportunistic new administrative committees.

The departure of Cholnan Srikaew as party president on August 30 necessitated the vote. After the celebration decided to form a coalition government with two military-linked parties from the prior administration, Dr. Cholnan claimed he did so to keep his word.

The custodian executive committee chose the election day on Friday, according to Mr. Prasert, the minister of digital economy and society in the coalition led by Pheu Thai.

At the October meet, he said, the number of executive committee members— which includes the president, assistant leaders, secretary-general, delegates, and another group positions— will been decided.

The criteria for choosing and qualifying MPs to serve as chairmen and users of House committees on several matters, according to Mr. Prasert, were also approved by the caretaker executive committee.

He added that the issue may be brought up some time before the public forum and said the committee had not yet discussed who would be nominated for the position of party chief as well as other opportunities.

According to some group members, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 37-year-old daughter of gathering patriarch and former prime minister Thaksin, is preferred for the position of leader.

When asked about rumors that Srettha Thavisin, the finance minister and prime minister, might also be a candidate for the position, Mr. Prasert replied that he was unaware of any such information.

He claimed that privately, he believed the party chief needed to be someone who truly understood the function of a democratic party.

The group may also choose who will hold various political positions in the new administration, but the interim executive committee, he claimed, has not yet done so.