Charupong tipped as Pheu Thai chief

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, the current secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, is now tipped to become the party's leader, while Viroj Pao-in is expected to be named as interim chief today. The 17-member Pheu Thai Party executive is expected today to name a caretaker leader pending convening of the party convention to elect a new leader and executives.

"The ruling party has no infighting over leadership as alleged, therefore ill-intentioned people should stop speculating on the next Pheu Thai leader," party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday.

Prompong said the next leader would emerge at the party convention and not at today's board meeting convened to resolve the leadership vacuum in the wake of Yongyuth Wichaidit's exit. Under the party procedures, the caretaker leader will be picked from among six deputy leaders.

After voting on the caretaker leader, the executive board would then set the date for the party convention, the party spokesman said.

In a related development, Thai Rak Thai veteran Chaturon Chaisaeng refused to comment on whether he would join the Cabinet and whether he would lead Pheu Thai. Democrat MP Thepthai Sennapong said the PM should assume party leadership in order to comply with the political tradition that a ruling party leader is also the head of government.

-- The Nation 2012-10-08

"The ruling party has no infighting over leadership as alleged, therefore ill-intentioned people should stop speculating on the next Pheu Thai leader," party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday.

If true there is no infighting over the party leadership, would this be a first in political history worldwide

"The ruling party has no infighting over leadership as alleged, therefore ill-intentioned people should stop speculating on the next Pheu Thai leader," party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said yesterday.

If true there is no infighting over the party leadership, would this be a first in political history worldwide

Beat me to it. As the Thai Rak Thai sharks circle waiting to feed - but there is no dissension in the ranks, just ask the puppet master or his mouthpiece.