Pheu Thai leader denies backroom deals: High-ranking Parliamentary roles still up for grabs
The Pheu Thai leader denies allocating high-ranking Parliamentary roles for his party, asserting that discussions are still ongoing to fill key positions. Despite rumours of potential nominees, Pheu Thai chief Chonlanan Srikaew maintains that no final decision has been made.
Chonlanan addressed the ongoing negotiations concerning the appointment of the President of the House of Representatives, stating that talks between his party and the Move Forward Party (MFP) began yesterday, May 30, and no conclusions have been made yet. They have been working together to address the numerous responsibilities related to the council.
Chonlanan emphasised that leadership roles should not be viewed as a reward or quota for any political party, as key positions require the attention of both the Pheu Thai and MFP to properly address the challenging issues at hand. He noted that the conclusion would not be reached by June 6 due to the separate working groups involved.
Rumours regarding potential candidates from the Pheu Thai party for the position of House President have mentioned the names of Chonlanan, Jaturon Chaysaeng, and Suchart Tancharoen.
Chonlanan, however, confirmed that the party has not yet discussed the issue of positions and specific individuals, including the roles at different ministries. The ongoing talks focus on assigning jobs based on the duties they must fulfil. Once an agreement is reached, it will be brought forth for consideration by the party’s executive board, adhering to its regulations and procedures.
In related news, the MFP and Pheu Thai agreed to support a Thai minimum wage increase to 450 baht (US$13) per day and continued discussions with the Federation of Thai Industries about moving the bill forward.
Both parties also agreed on the Progressive Liquor Bill, which aims to create fairer rules for small and community-based alcohol producers in Thailand. The bill resurfaced in public discussions after being mentioned in a memorandum of understanding signed by eight parties looking to form a coalition government. Read more about it HERE.
