Pheu Thai appoints Thaksin’s trusted man to head new economic team
Main opposition party Pheu Thai has appointed Prommin Lertsuridej, a key strategist trusted by Pheu Thai patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra, to head its economic team as the general election looms.
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew ordered the launch of the economic strategy team on Friday.
The 14-member team also features ex-deputy PM Kittiratt Na-Ranong as vice chairman and economic experts Srettha Thavisin, Pansak Vinyaratn, Supavud Saicheua, and Panpree Phathithanukorn.
Srettha, a property tycoon turned politician, is tipped to become one of three Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidates at the election, which is tentatively scheduled for May 7. He was recently named chief adviser to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, who is expected to be the party’s core PM candidate.
The economic team is tasked with devising ideas to tackle Thailand’s economic problems.
On Friday, Prommin said Thais are suffering economic crisis due to Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the ongoing “trade war” between China and the US.
“It is a big challenge for political parties to lead the country and the people out of this crisis,” he said.
Pheu Thai had assembled an economics team with expertise and experience in economic matters and international politics to “understand the problems” facing Thailand, he added.
“Pheu Thai’s economic team will serve as a hub of knowledge, capability and cooperation to save our economy. We will run the country in a way that brings economic improvement.”
If Pheu Thai was elected to government, it would restore Thailand’s economy to strength just as it did after the 1997 financial crisis and the 2011 great flood.
“The wreckage that has been caused will be recovered under Pheu Thai’s hands,” he said.
Prommin served as PM’s secretary general in Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai government before being appointed as deputy prime minister and energy minister from 2003 and 2005.
