Pheu Thai to refresh party’s top executives

Party leader Wirode Pao-in tendered his resignation on Wednesday and secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai announced his intention to step down. Phumtham said on Wednesday that he wanted to see a younger politician take over from him.
Veteran politician Sompong Amornwiwat, a Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Mai, is tipped to become the next party leader.
Young Bangkok MP Anudit Nakornthap, who is a close aide to Pheu Thai’s former prime ministerial candidate Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, is expected to succeed Phumtham as the next secretary general.
Sompong, who is close to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said on Wednesday that Anudit was best suited to become Pheu Thai’s next secretary general, although there were many potential candidates.
He brushed aside media reports that the party’s MPs from northeastern provinces opposed the possible nomination of Anudit as the next secretary general.
“There are many candidates and they all have their supporters and detractors. Anudit is likely to be elected as he is the best suited. Things will be alright after the party reaches a resolution,” Sompong said.
Phumtham said in his statement on Wednesday that Pheu Thai’s current executive board had ceased to exist on Wednesday (July 3).
“The next missions are for the up-and-coming generations to carry on, in the new political environment that we are facing,” he said.
He also noted that no Pheu Thai executive members who contested the March 24 general election as party-list candidates had won any MP seats under the new rules introduced for the election. The number of MP seats it gained from constituencies had already exceeded the party’s maximum number of eligible House seats under the new mixed-member proportional representation electoral system.
Pheu Thai will hold a party meeting on July 12 to elect the 29 new members of its executive board.