21-8-2023 (BANGKOK) Srettha Thavisin, the primary prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, stood firm on his business track record on Sunday and expressed optimism that parliament would endorse his nomination during an upcoming vote on Tuesday.
The former property developer, who has transitioned into politics, recently faced accusations from whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit regarding alleged unethical business practices, including questionable land deals, during his time working with real estate developer Sansiri. These allegations have raised doubts about whether Mr. Srettha can be trusted to lead the country.
In response, Mr. Srettha acknowledged that as a public figure, he is open to criticism. However, he adamantly insisted that neither he nor Sansiri were involved in any questionable land purchases. He emphasized that he has upheld good corporate governance throughout his three-decade-long career. He firmly denies the claims made by Mr. Chuvit.
Having resigned from all positions at Sansiri in April to pursue his political ambitions with the Pheu Thai Party ahead of the May 14 general election, Mr. Srettha stated that he has addressed the concerns raised by Mr. Chuvit. He expressed confidence that Members of Parliament (MPs) and senators would exercise discretion when casting their votes. He also expressed his complete trust in the Pheu Thai Party, which is currently engaged in negotiations with potential coalition partners.
Furthermore, Mr. Srettha assured that the key policies of each prospective partner would be incorporated into the government’s agenda. He also affirmed that Pheu Thai’s controversial digital wallet program would be accepted and implemented by its allies.
When asked about the allocation of cabinet seats, a topic discussed widely on social media, Mr. Srettha declined to provide specific information. He urged patience, stating, “Let’s take it step-by-step.” However, he expressed confidence that Pheu Thai and its coalition partners would propose qualified individuals for the positions.
In a separate statement, Pheu Thai list-MP Sutin Klungsang confirmed that the party had fulfilled all conditions put forth by MPs and senators. He saw no reason why Mr. Srettha would not be elected during the upcoming vote on Tuesday. Mr. Sutin stated that Mr. Srettha’s qualifications had been thoroughly examined before he was named as the party’s candidate. He also mentioned that the party had investigated the allegations made by Mr. Chuvit and found them to be baseless.
In other news, sources reveal that the Democrat Party, with 25 MPs, will convene a meeting today to determine their voting strategy in the prime ministerial selection. According to the source, a group of MPs who are opposed to joining the Pheu Thai-led bloc might request that the Democrat Party abstain from voting or allow a free vote on the matter.
Furthermore, reports indicate that as many as 21 Democrat MPs are in favor of supporting a candidate from the Pheu Thai Party, with the hope of securing an invitation for the party to join the government.
A source from the Pheu Thai Party disclosed that there is ongoing lobbying for the defense portfolio to be allocated to the Palang Pracharath Party, which has yet to join the Pheu Thai-led alliance but has shown support.
