Thai Rak Thai Executive Prommin Rubbishes Reports Of His Returning To Politics

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RETURN OF 111

Prommin rubbishes reports of his returning to politics

The Nation

Prommin

BANGKOK: -- Thai Rak Thai executive Prommin Lertsuridej said yesterday he would not accept any political appointments despite expiry this month of his five-year ban for holding office.

"Speculation about me is nonsense and [story] mongers have invoked my name just to make their rumours credible," he said via Spring News channel.

Prommin said he was not aspiring for the position of the secretary-general to the prime minister, arguing he barely kept in touch with the government and had not stepped inside Government House in the past two months.

He said he did not expect to resume politicking after the completion of his ban.

He voiced disappointment at the prevailing political climate, saying certain political parties had failed to keep up with social change.

"The conflict will persist if those in power cling to the old way," he said.

Election Commission member Sodsri Satayathum said the 111 party executives could resume holding office after May 30, the expiry of their ban.

Former Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chaturon Chaisaeng said he would surely help the Pheu Thai Party after the expiry of his five-year political ban.

"It is not important, my position in the party. It is up to the party's need," he told Thairath online.

Chaturon denied any report that he would be in the Yingluck cabinet. "No one has contacted me about the issue."

He also said he had neither gone to meet his former boss, Thaksin Shinawatra, nor talked to him about a cabinet reshuffle.

Meanwhile, Sodsri said the 111 could accept ministerial appointments because ministers were not required to be party members or get elected.

Should they choose to contest a by-election, they would have to obtain their party membership 90 days ahead of the vote, she said.

For two consecutive days, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has skirted around the question on whether she would shuffle her ministers.

Yingluck listened to the question on the Cabinet line-up, shook her head and did not give a reply.

-- The Nation 2012-05-04