Two leaders of the ruling party’s ‘Three Friends’ faction bid farewell to deputy PM

Justice Minister Somsak and Industry Minister Suriya met Wissanu at his office shortly before 11am. Both presented him garlands and left after about 10 minutes, the source said. Somsak and Suriya are leaders of the so-called “Sam Mit” (“Three Friends”) faction in the ruling party. They declined to answer reporters’ questions as they left Government House.

The apparent farewell came amidst speculation that both Somsak and Suriya will defect to the main opposition party, Pheu Thai, ahead of the next general election. They neither dismissed nor confirmed the rumour.

Somsak called a press conference at a restaurant in Nonthaburi province on Friday. He is expected to discuss his faction’s future at the event.

Meanwhile, Palang Pracharath executive member Sakoltee Phattiyakul said the party would unveil its election candidates for all 33 Bangkok constituencies at a campaign rally this Saturday.

The event, to be held at Lan Kon Muang plaza next to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration headquarters, is expected to draw between 3,000 and 5,000 people, said Sakoltee, who leads the ruling party’s election campaign for Bangkok.

Palang Pracharath aims to win the 12 seats, the same number it won in the March 2019 election, he said.

“Palang Pracharath has policies for the big picture – for the overall development of Bangkok and the surrounding areas – and not just small policies for here and there. We hope to win all MP seats in Bangkok. But speaking more realistically, we should be able to retain the existing 12 seats,” he said.

Sakoltee, who was appointed deputy Bangkok governor under the post-coup junta’s tenure, contested the city’s gubernatorial election last year as an independent and managed to come fourth among 31 candidates.