Thailand's economic ministers quit amid coronavirus crisis

BANGKOK – Thailand's long-standing economic policy team celebrated the first anniversary of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's cabinet with resignation letters instead of a birthday card, heralding a looming shake-up in the former army chief's governance of the Southeast Asian country.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, Energy Minister Sonthirat Sontijirawong and Suvit Maesincee, the higher education and science minister, announced their resignations at Government House on Thursday, ending their role in the country's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak did not appear, but his resignation letter was submitted together with those of his fellow ministers.

"We've made a decision ourselves," Uttama said of the move to step down. "We were not forced to resign. Our resignation is intended to reduce political pressure on the prime minister and to clear the way for a cabinet reshuffle."

On the surface, the ministers quit to take responsibility for economic underperformance. But they are also victims of party politics. They are likely to be replaced by people from, or close to, Palang Pracharat, the leading party in the ruling coalition.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's cabinet was sworn in a year ago Thursday after general elections in March 2019. But the country's sudden loss of economic momentum has exposed the military junta roots of the elected government.

Thailand's emergency coronavirus decree has been extended three times since the beginning of the outbreak. The state of emergency minimizes the political roles of Thailand's cabinet and parliament while giving overwhelming power to the prime minister, including the ability to curtail individual rights.

The prime minister warned on July 9 that the reshuffle could come sooner than people think.

"A cabinet reshuffle can take place any time from now on. I did not say I would definitely reshuffle in September," Prayuth said. "Changes will be made where necessary. Those who already work well will carry on."

The resignation on Thursday will force Prayuth to kick off the reshuffle.

Prayuth appointed Somkid in August 2015 as deputy prime minister to steer economic policy. Since then, his faction has been at the center of Thailand's economic policymaking, surviving the transition from the junta to an elected cabinet.

>sauce: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thailand-s-economic-ministers-quit-amid-coronavirus-crisis