PM wants 10 days to pick NSC chief

Commanders have been in charge of the security company for 10 years.

The selection process for the new National Security Council ( NSC ) chief has been postponed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday, adding to the mystery surrounding who will lead the nation’s top security organization.

Supoj Malaniyom retired on September 30 at the end of the previous financial year, leaving the secretary-general position unoccupied.

Deputy secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad has since been acting as the acting captain.

Speaking after preside over an NSC meeting for the first time since taking office, Mr. Srettha announced that the appointment of a fresh secretary-general had been delayed due to pending legal proceedings, which must be finished in about 10 times.

The deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote, was transferred from the Royal Thai Police ( RTP ) to the NSC so that he could be appointed its head. The premier declined to respond to a reporter’s inquiry as to whether the legal proceedings had anything to do with this.

He argued that it was unnecessary to discuss the matter at this time and assured NSC that the session delay wouldn’t interfere with the organization’s smooth operations.

Additionally, he anticipated issues if the NSC named a non-member as its new key.

A source close to the situation claimed that Pol Gen Roy even had a good chance of landing the position, despite the fact that Mr. Chatchai has long been predicted to become the next NSC secretary-general.

The new secretary-general was anticipated to be chosen shortly before yesterday’s NSC meeting, and the interview could be sent to the government for authorization as early as next Tuesday.

Anusit Kunakorn, who was at the time a lieutenant NSC secretary-general, was appointed as the head of the organization by former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha following the 2014 revolt.

Gen Taweep Netniyom was selected to succeed Mr. Anusit a year later. Gen Supoj and other NSC rulers have all served as military commanders since that time.

According to the source, Mr. Chatchai would be the first human NSC chief in nine years if he ends up becoming the agency’s fresh secretary-general as widely anticipated.

Sutin Klungsang, the defense minister, asserted that there was no legal barrier to postpone the nomination for much longer.

He asserted that he thought the situation may become resolved quickly.