BOT chairman selection starts next week
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The committee tasked to select the next Bank of Thailand chairman will convene on July 17, as the incumbent chairman's term will expire at the end of this month, said a source from the central bank.
Among the candidates to succeed Virabongsa Ramangkura include former finance minister Thanong Bidaya and former deputy prime minister and BOT governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.
The source said that the selection committee will be chaired by former finance permanent secretary Suparat Kawatkul. The other six members include Sathit Limpongpan, former finance permanent secretary.
On August 1, Virabongsa will turn 70.
The source admitted that the selection committee might not succeed in naming the successor within the end of this month. Without chairman, the BOT can still proceed with its monthly operation if over half of the board members are present at the meeting.
The BOT governor is by law allowed to nominate two candidates for the post while the Finance Ministry can name one candidate.
Pridiyathorn was also one of the candidates in the previous race, thanks to his experience as a former central bank governor.
Virabongsa won the race amid growing concerns over the government's influence in the Bank of Thailand's policy direction. Virabongsa is an advisor to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
