FM role tipped for Maris
After Parnpree retires, PM acts quickly.
After Parnpree Bahiddha- Nukara’s surprise resignation announcement on Sunday, past career diplomat Maris Sangiampongsa has been named as the possible new international minister.
Mr. Maris is widely anticipated to become his replacement because he was Mr. Parnpree’s advisor at the government.
He had been Thailand’s ambassador to Australia, Nepal and other places before retiring as ambassador to Canada.
When Thaksin Shinawatra was elected prime minister about 20 years ago, Mr. Maris was hired to work at Government House and has since developed a close relation with the Shinawatra home.
” Mr. Maris has a wealth of experience in international politics. He has had long-standing social relations with the Pheu Thai Party,” a supply told the Bangkok Post.
Mr Parnpree quit on Sunday, successful quickly, in protest after he lost the article of assistant elite, which he held continuously with foreign affairs minister, in the change.
Mr. Parnpree stated on Sunday that his departure was intended to “uphold the idea that he should have full support for his job in both roles.”
He claimed that only holding the position of unusual ministerial may hinder his work in foreign affairs and that there were different qualified candidates for the position.
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister, announced yesterday that a new foreign secretary had been chosen to take Mr. Parnpree’s place, but she obtained information.
The perfect minister did not identify Mr. Parnpree’s replacement at the government, citing only that it was someone who had been working for the Pheu Thai Party’s foreign policy team behind the scenes.
Before the fresh president’s name was forwarded to His Majesty the King for imperial support, Mr. Srettha added, their requirements would need to be examined.
In the change, Mr Parnpree was stripped of his deputy prime minister’s investment but retained the article of foreign affairs minister. Nevertheless, he tendered his resignation to the prime minister on Sunday.
The prime minister defended the choice, saying it gave Mr. Parnpree the power to assume total control of international affairs after assistant foreign minister Jakkapong Sangmanee was elevated to the position of PM’s Office secretary.
” Now, there are already six assistant prime ministers, which I believe should be enough. It is difficult for every cupboard minister to offer as deputy prime minister continuously,’ ‘ Mr Srettha said.
Mr. Srettha thanked Mr. Parnpree if the alter caused him to feel unsatisfied and thanked him for it.
Commenting on the government change, Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, noted that some people who have worked closely with the Pheu Thai Party have been appointed as government officials.
” For Pheu Thai, the group takes precedence over individual users. The government change may have left some frustrated… but it is unlikely that they will fault to another functions”, Mr Stithorn said.
He even noted that Pheu Thai has always been in charge of the Foreign Affairs Ministry since its two past incarnations, the Women’s Party and the Thai Rak Thai Party, both of which were ousted for electoral fraud.
Given his abilities and experience, Chulapong Yukate, a Move Forward Party list member and deputy chairman of the House committee on international matters, said yesterday that it was unfortunate that Mr. Parnpree had resigned as foreign secretary.
According to Mr. Chulapong, over the past seven months, Mr. Parnpree had performed extremely well in his position as foreign secretary.
He urged the prime minister to appoint someone who is capable of taking on Mr. Parnpree’s replacement quickly in order to deal with a number of pressing issues, such as the battle between the Myanmar war and rebel forces and measures to deal with an anticipated influx of refugees fleeing across the border.