Cabinet ministers are entitled to join new political party, says Prayut

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday defended the right of four of his ministers to join the pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party, saying it was a “private matter” and they were able to do so as long as it did not affect their ability to do their public duty.

 

The dual role of the ministers both in the government and in Palang Pracharath, which will contest the upcoming election, has prompted concern over the competitive advantage the party may have. 

 

Prayut insisted yesterday that would not be the case in his administration.

 

“The four ministers are not key decision-makers in the Cabinet. Decisions are made collectively by the whole Cabinet, which also has deputy prime ministers and a prime minister,” Prayut said.

 

The government would not give any particular group an advantage over the others, he said, stressing that it only worked to serve the public interest.

 

Following their controversial debuts, there have been calls for the four ministers to resign their ministerial posts. It would be the right thing to do, critics, say, even though the law does not require them to. 

 

Prayut, who is also the junta chief, questioned yesterday whether the ministers were obliged by the law to relinquish their Cabinet positions and also questioned whether previous governments had done the same. 

 

His comments came after four ministers – Industry Minister Uttama Savanayon, Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, Minister attached to PM’s office Kobsak Pootrakul, and Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee – appeared as executive members of the pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party.

 

Speculation is that the party has been formed specifically to support Prayut in the next election. The junta head, however, has divulged nothing about his political ambitions.

 

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Sontirat, now also secretary-general of Palang Pracharath, said yesterday that Prayut had only advised those joining politics to be careful about their work.

 

Some observers have warned it would be inappropriate if the four ministers went on mobile Cabinet trips as these could help them gain popularity while other politicians remained under political restrictions. Sontirat said that PM Prayut had not mentioned such matters.

 

However, he did add that he was deliberating over whether or not to join mobile Cabinet trips. 

 

Sontirat declined to say when he would step down from power amid pressure calling on him to do so. He said he had already made up his mind on the exact timing but asked that others respect his decision. 

 

He did, however, admit that it was more difficult for him to keep working in his current position. 

 

“To not work would be easier. To be in this situation and still have to work is difficult. I have to prove myself a lot,” Sontirat said.

 

But he was in good spirits, he said, as Prayut had made clear that the four ministers did not have to resign, even though they had taken up roles in a political party.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30355669

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-03

PM Prayut insists again that 4 Cabinet members who join Palang Pracharat do not need to resign

 

 

Despite mounting pressure from various political quarters,  Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted the four Cabinet members who have joined the pro-junta Palang Pracharat Party do not have to resign from their political posts.

 

Defending the four ministers, he said that their affiliation with the Palang Pracharat party is their personal affairs. But the prime minister said he has cautioned their four Cabinet members that whatever their political undertaking, their work at their respective ministries must not be affected.

 

Gen Prayut also insisted that there is no law that prohibits Cabinet ministers from being associated with political parties.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pm-prayut-insists-again-that-4-cabinet-members-who-join-palang-pracharat-do-not-need-to-resign/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-10-03

"...The government would not give any particular group an advantage over the others, he said, stressing that it only worked to serve the public interest..."

 

 

Ahhh! Thailand 2018...

 

Wake up in the morning, open the paper, and have your intelligence insulted...

 

"...and also questioned whether previous governments had done the same...." 

 

Er... Ahem...

 

'Previous governments' were elected under a constitution in an internationally recognized process. You are a coup leader.

 

It is not 'comparing apples and oranges', it is comparing apples and tanks.

 

 

I don't know, as my Thai is not too good.  But doesn't "Palang Pracharat party" mean something like  "We've got you by the balls"?

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday defended the right of four of his ministers to join the pro-junta Palang Pracharath Party, saying it was a “private matter”

once again, publicly, this guy demonstrates his lack of intellect; saying some of the highest officials in the land, none elected, are engaging in 'private matters' while at the same time these officials are needlessly trumpeting their affiliations in very public political affiliations;

hypocritical and stupid on his part (everything is good as long as his guys are doing it/them);

blatant jockeying for first spots on their part at the trough

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Cabinet ministers are entitled to join new political party, says Prayut

Entitlement is such a nice perk...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Cabinet ministers are entitled!

 

That's it....say no more!

3 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I don't know, as my Thai is not too good.  But doesn't "Palang Pracharat party" mean something like  "We've got you by the balls"?

 

Pretty much so; I believe it's more or less loosely translated as People's Power Party. For what I happen to know history and current affair of things in the world, the use of "People" in naming parties and other similar things tends not to mean what they obviously try to project (ie. that the existence of such would actually have something to do with the majority of people or that they would somehow work for the benefit of the people) but instead mean exactly what you said.. "We got the people by the balls". DPRK and PRC of course being the obvious examples.

 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Cabinet ministers are entitled to join new political party,

They are already members of a political Party it's called the Junta Party. So what's new about it ? It is the same Party they are joining but under a different name for election purposes. 

They are just getting in early to make sure their snouts and trotters are guaranteed a place at the trough.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

it was a “private matter”

TRANSLATION:

It's up to the personal decision of junta chief Prayut and not to compliance with any laws or constitutions (I consider the 2017 Constitution to embody actually three constitutions: 2014 Interim Constitution, 2017 Transitory constitution and post-election constitution).

If the Thai people want to preserve and exercise their national sovereignty. they should not support Prayut and his pro-military political parties.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

it was a “private matter”

Very well sums up the existing dual polity. A minority elitists govern the nation through personal relationships while the majority electorate are bound as second class citizens to the elitist constitutions and laws.

Sure they are entitled....to do whatever is helpful in the junta's efforts to retain power. Regardless of ethics, morals, or legal considerations. Why is this confusing?

On 10/2/2018 at 6:10 PM, klauskunkel said:

Entitlement is such a nice perk...

Yep.

Works here like a charm.

 

An accepted way of life, actually.