Sonthi tipped to join House committee for budget vetting

Purachai dismissed speculation that the Pheu Thai Party had lobbied him and other small parties to endorse the nomination because the ruling party wanted to show gratitude for Sonthi’s push for reconciliation.
“The small parties made a joint decision in a straightforward manner; there is no conspiracy behind this,” Purachai said.
Rak Prathet Thai Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit alleged that the ruling party had departed from precedent and allocated one seat in the 63-member House committee in charge of vetting the budget as a favour to Sonthi.
Chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanawisit said he would leave it to the small parties to form a consensus on the nomination.
Before entering politics, Sonthi was the leader of the 2006 coup that ousted then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Many regard his current activity in leading moves for reconciliation and granting amnesty to Thaksin as a political about-turn.
The House committee is scheduled to be formed this afternoon and will scrutinise
the Bt2.44-trillion spending plans before the final passage
of the bill.