Selection put on hold due to meddling concerns.
A commission that was set up to select a new chairman of the Board of Governor for the Bank of Thailand has postponed its choice until further notice due to concerns about potential political interference from many individuals, including former BoT government Tarisa Watanagase.
Apparently, the state has indicated that it intends to send its individual candidate to replace Porametee Vimolsiri, whose term ends this month. Past Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong has a strong chance of landing the position.
Past Pheu Thai Party deputy president and chief strategist for the market, Mr. Kittiratt. He even criticized the BoT’s attention rate plan and the company’s freedom while serving as an assistant to former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.
The seven-member collection panel convened on Tuesday afternoon to discuss whether Mr. Kittiratt would be chosen. But, it decided to postpone the choice pending more data gathering.
Its members are former financing permanent secretary Sathit Limphongpan, past business permanent director Boonyarit Kalayanamitr, former business permanent secretary Witoon Simachokedee, past Budget Bureau producer Worawit Champeerat, former director general of the Council of State Office Atchaporn Charuchinda, former SEC secretary-general Pakorn Malakul na Ayutthaya, and former secretary of the Office of the Insurance Commission Sutthipol Thaweechaikarn.
Mr Pakorn said the gathering was diverse, and the agency’s director was assigned to provide more info. Mr Atchaporn said more information is needed to vet the prospects ‘ skills, and the next meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Ms Vireka Suntapuntu, the panel’s director, said the information must be complete for the selection to be true, so the secretary has asked for more time to evaluate it.
On Tuesday, Mr. Worawit confirmed that Mr. Kittiratt was a candidate.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira reportedly shone a dim light on speculation that the government intends to assign a legislator for the position.
When the subject was brought up, he was speaking to reporters about potential conversations with BoT government Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput regarding economic policy and the government’s financial stimulus measures.
He responded:” Is it? BoT? Lawmaker”?
There was no social interference, according to deputy finance secretary Julapun Amornvivat, and the procedure was conducted in accordance with the law.
He said he had no information about Mr Kittiratt’s frequently speculated session.
In the meantime, Tarisa Watanagase, a former governor of the central bank, on Tuesday urged the council to choose the board president to exhibit moral courage.
She claimed in a social media post that the state was unsatisfied with the BoT’s decisions regarding interest rates and the 10,000-baht digital budget plan.
She warned that if the candidate with the government support was elected president, it would open the door to political meddling and had significant financial effects.
The selection panel must make a good conscience choice, which may prevent further financial issues, she said.
Ms. Tarisa argued that political interference in central banks, as seen in other nations, was proof that institutions lacking independence ca n’t always maintain long-term economic stability.
The law requires the collection council members to become retired senior representatives from financial institutions who have lived up to all expectations, according to Ms. Tarisa, in order to protect against political meddling.
She expressed hope that the committee would uphold the principles.
Meanwhile, Luangta Maha Bua’s supporters on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to protest the government’s alleged interference in the BoT.
The monk’s disciples slammed the finance minister’s appointment of the committee to select the BoT’s board and chairman. They claimed that the panel did not include any former central bank governors, which suggests an intention to interfere with the organization’s operations.
Kittiratt Na-Ranong