The return of Wissanu Krea-ngam, legal savior for leaders in trouble

webfact · June 2

Last week’s appointment of former deputy premier Wissanu Krea-ngam as the prime minister’s legal adviser surprised many observers, given Wissanu’s documented health issues and earlier pledge to leave politics for good.

The 72-year-old suffers from cataracts as well as kidney disease that requires daily dialysis. Before announcing his “eventual retirement” from politics last August, Wissanu had served as legal advisor to a string of governments under eight prime ministers since 1991.

His last boss was Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s immediate predecessor, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is now a privy councillor. Wissanu served as deputy prime minister in charge of legal affairs for nine years under Prayut.

Analysts speculated that he only accepted the job offer because it was made by figures in the “old power clique”, namely Prayut and General Prawit Wongsuwan, Wissanu’s fellow deputy PM in the previous government who now leads the coalition’s Palang Pracharath Party.

The speculation is that Wissanu has been deployed to tackle legal issues facing the ruling coalition and ensure it survives for as long as possible.

However, Wissanu denied that the old power clique, remnants of the 2014-2019 junta, were involved in his appointment.

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-06-03

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hotchilli · June 2

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The speculation is that Wissanu has been deployed to tackle legal issues facing the ruling coalition and ensure it survives for as long as possible

Which looks like the cracks are widening.