Phalang Pracharat Party unity in doubt after reshuffle: source
Phalang Pracharat Party unity seems to have been shattered with leader Uttama Savanayana and secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong about to be replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Santi Promphat, respectively, according to a party source.
However, Uttama and most of the party executives who have been asked to resign their posts, are refusing to do so, according to a party executive member.
The wholesale changes to the coalition leader’s executive committee would come ahead of an expected Cabinet reshuffle in June. Uttama currently holds the post of finance minister while Sontirat is energy minister.
“A mission to change the leader is plausible since Prawit himself mentioned that Uttama was asked to resign and that he [Prawit] would take the position,” the source said.
Prawit’s right-hand man, identified only as “Big A”, is lobbying half of the executive members to resign, which will eventually lead to the resignation of Uttama, said the source.
A major meeting scheduled for May will see the election of new executive members, the source added.
Prawit is expected to be named the new interior minister, while Santi Promphat is set to take the finance minister’s post. Nataphol Teepsuwan should be the new energy minister and Anucha Nakasai will be the new education minister, the executive member added.