Somkid was the right choice by Prayut

The revelation of how ministerial posts are being politically allotted is somewhat sad and yet hilarious, especially for one science minister who is superstitious in life. 

However, I view things differently from the editorial on the appointment of Somkid Jatusripitak as our new economic czar. Somkid was first brought to politics by Thaksin Shinawatra but later on sidelined by the family and never regarded as a man of the inner circle. Somkid is a pragmatic man holding no blind loyalty towards anyone. Michael Porter, the world’s most influential thinker on competitiveness, is his idol. Somkid’s record proves plenty that Prime Minister Prayut has made the right choice. It may not be an intention to depart from political appointees but was an obvious alternative choice that Prayut had to select him after the fiasco of his first economic team.

On the contrary, if Somkid had been in charge from day one, I doubt that he would have led officials spending one year on pursuing the enactment of the inheritance tax while the country was crying out for economic leadership.

Songdej Praditsmanont