Three Bhumjaithai ministers and a secretary-general to quit as party-list MPs

Three ministers of the Bhumjaithai party and one secretary-general will step down as party-list MPs, in order to concentrate on their executive responsibilities and to pave the way for other party-list candidates to become party-list MPs.

Informed party sources said today that Industry Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, Energy Minister Akanat Promphan, PM’s Office Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi and Traisuree Traisoranakul, secretary-general of the prime minister, plan to tender their resignations as legislators after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers his policy statement to parliament on April 10.

Their seats in the House will be filled by Piti Pitutecha, Paibul Ratchakitprakarn, Pongsakorn Unnopporn and Siriwan Prasjaksattru.

Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised has already quit as a party-list MP and Nikorn Chamnong was moved up to fill the vacancy.

Sources say that it had been agreed within the party that any party-list MPs who were appointed ministers would have to quit their legislative responsibilities, to enable them to concentrate on their executive duties.

This arrangement, the sources added, will help in avoiding the lack of a quorum problem in parliament, because MPs who are also ministers cannot attend parliamentary meetings.

The sources also say that the prime minister has made it clear to his Cabinet that there is no time for on-the-job training by any of his ministers, who are required to hit the ground running as soon as prime minister has delivered his policy statement on April 10.

The prime minister will lead his new Cabinet in an oath-taking ceremony at Government House on Monday, to be followed by a special Cabinet meeting on the same day.