Labour Minister Treenuch Thienthong has dismissed speculation that she is set to succeed Gen Prawit Wongsuwon as leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) following a series of MP defections.
“As of now, Gen Prawit remains the party leader and continues to perform his duties as usual,” she told the media on Tuesday.
The speculation intensified after a string of defections from the PPRP, including former secretary-general Santi Promphat, who resigned from the party and joined the ruling Bhumjaithai Party along with his son, Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat. Their departure dealt another major blow to the PPRP, which now has only seven MPs left.
The remaining PPRP members are Gen Prawit, Ms Treenuch, Kwanruen Thienthong, Chotiwut Thanakamanusorn, Chaimongkhon Chairop, Krasae Trakoonpornpong and Wiriya Tongpa. The rest of the 21 MPs, once allied with Gen Prawit, have defected to the Klatham, Bhumjaithai, and Pheu Thai parties, among others.
In response to the exodus, Ms Treenuch reaffirmed her commitment to staying with the PPRP, saying the party remains united and is preparing for the next general election. “The number of seats we win is less important than our shared ideology and commitment to serving the public,” she said.
She also rejected rumours suggesting she might follow Mr Santi to Bhumjaithai.
“I am already working in the same team under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s leadership,” she said, implying that there is no need to switch parties just to remain in the coalition.
Regarding the vacant post of secretary-general, Ms Treenuch said the PPRP’s executive committee would soon meet to select a replacement.
The new appointee, she said, should be someone capable of working cooperatively with other parties that share similar political goals.