July 22, 2020 Thai Enquirer Summary Political News Thais will soon learn if the country will see another extension of the state of emergency for another month. The prospect arose after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s subcommittee tasked with considering the easing of lockdown restrictions agreed at a meeting yesterday (July 21) to propose extending the state of emergency until the end of August. The CCSA subcommittee’s decision will be proposed to the CCSA’s meeting today (July 22). Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha who chairs the CCSA came out to defend the proposed extension of the state of emergency as he said an extension has nothing to do with anti-government protests that has gained momentum in the past few days. He insisted that the state of emergency was still necessary because the existing laws do not cover some aspects relating to controlling the COVID-10 pandemic, and assured that it is not related to anti-government protests which can be dealt with under public assembly laws. Separately, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha came out to confirm that the line-up of new ministers for the upcoming cabinet reshuffle has been completed. Gen Prayut insisted that there is no conflict between him and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, also Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) leader, over the potential list of new ministers. However, when asked by reporters if he made the decision about the new ministers by himself, Gen Prayut insisted that the choices were not based on a party quota system. He went on to thank Phalang Pracharat. He said everyone has the right to talk but the person who made the decisions is him. After the vetting process, the list of potential new ministers will be forwarded to His Majesty the King for approval after which they will take an oath of allegiance before they start work. The reshuffle has been triggered by the resignations of 6 ministers. The issue in the reshuffle appears to be the energy portfolio after PPRP deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan said the party wants to reserve the energy portfolio to Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the incumbent industry minister. Gen Prayut himself favours Pairin Chuchotethavorn, former deputy transport minister and former CEO of PTT. At the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP)’s meeting of MPs at 14.00 hrs yesterday (July 21), there are reports that PPRP MPs are trying to push for Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to take over the interior portfolio from incumbent interior minister Gen Anupong Paojinda. The meeting agreed that it wants Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan to take over the interior portfolio, replacing Gen Anupong Paojinda. This is to have Gen Prawit taken control of elections at all levels. The proposal was pushed by Pai Leeke, a PPRP MP for Kamphaeng Petch. The proposal got the overwhelming support of MPs but it will need to approval from the party’s executive committee. In an interview with the media afterwards, Gen Prawit has rejected the proposal to double as Interior Minister. He simply said he could hardly walk. Other people can take on the job. Later at 16.00 hrs, the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPPR) organised a meeting of the party’s executive committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan. The meeting discussed the results of its meeting of MPs held early on which saw 5 names proposed as new ministers for cabinet reshuffle. The meeting of MPs agreed to nominate Gen Prawit for the Interior Minister post Suriya Jungrungreangkit as the Energy Minister Anucha Nakasai as the Industry Minister Naruemon Pinyosinwat to the position of PM’s office minister Suchart Chomklin as Labour Minister. However, a source with the party said the list of nominees for cabinet posts under the party’s quota proposed by the meeting of PPRP MPs yesterday (July 21) had been rejected by Gen Prayut. It is said that the PPRP will receive no more than 3 cabinet posts with 2 possibilities: One is Suriya tipped as the Energy Minister and Anucha as Industry Minister while Suchart would likely be name the higher education, science and innovations minister or PM’s office minister if Suthep Thaugsuban, of the Ruam Phalang Prachachartthai Party, insisted to keep the labour portfolio. Another possibility is that Suriya will be forced to keep the industry portfolio if Gen Prayut insisted to give the role of the energy minister to Pailin Chuchottaworn. Anucha will then be given the higher education, science and innovations minister. That will leave Suchart to compete with Naruemon for the PM’s office minister post. Gen Prawit is expected to submit the PPRP’s nomination list to Gen Prayut today (July 22). Political analysts have come out to say that they feel that there is every likelihood that outsiders would not come join the cabinet because there is already so much fiction from the PPRP for outsiders. They say that the 4 ministers of the Somkid Jatusripitak faction quit because of the fiction in the PPRP and not many would have the guts to come to the Cabinet with just strong opposition from the party members even though Prayut says that it is his call to make the Cabinet reshuffle. Flash mobs against the government have now spread all over the country. Flash mob protests organised by university students and the general public nationwide is set to continue today as well with various protests organized including: July 22 – Rallies in 4 venues including Chonburi province near Laem Thaen Bang Saen Beach Mahasarakham University Prae province Nong Pai district in Petchabun. July 23 - Rallies in Bueng Phra Ram Public Park in Ayutthaya Rangsit University Ratchadanusorn Public Park in Khon Kaen. July 24: the “Coalition of Salaya Students” is set to convene to read out a statement calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down. Other activities on the same day are to be held in Lamphun city center Udon Thani province. July 29 – The New Life Network’s rally in Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Ratchasima. August 1 – Rallies in Ratchaburi Roi Et. The Pheu Thai Party had an annual general meeting (AGM) yesterday (July 21). During the AGM, party leader Sompong Amornwiwat issued a statement calling on the government to follow 4 demands to find a way out of the current political conflict including: The government must listen to the people and exercise patience to solve problems and refrain from using force or violence on those with differing views. Sompong also called for protesters of all groups to exercise their right under the constitution and conduct peaceful rallies. The government must support the drafting of a new constitution. It is now time for the government to allow people to get back to work and earn a living by turning the COVId-19 crisis into opportunity. Sompong called for a 3-year exemption from any business obstacles to allow operators to have enough time to resuscitate their business. The government must pass laws in an urgent manner to allow the people, especially small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help raise their bargain power in the market. The Election Commission (EC) endorsed Wattana Sithiwang of the Palang Pracharat Party as a new MP as a result of his win in the by-election in Lampang’s Constituency 4 despite electoral fraud complaints. The EC insisted that it would continue to probe into complaints relating to vote- buying and poll fraud despite its announcement of Wattana as the winner. The poll agency reportedly sent letters to complainers including former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn who filed a complaint about poll fraud in evidence. On the progress on local elections, the Election Commission said it has finished drawing up constituency boundaries for provincial administration organisations (PAOs) in 77 provinces. The demarcation of constituency boundaries for PAOs of 19 provinces has been published in the Royal Gazette, says EC chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong, adding that the rest is to follow. The EC also finished the demarcation of electoral boundaries for local municipalities in 55 provinces. It expects to complete the drawing up of electrical boundaries in 22 provinces soon. Separately, Election Commission (EC) chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong confirmed that the EC is confident to complete its investigation into donations given to 32 political parties. He said the EC has made good progress given that it was asked to handle complaints regarding donations to nearly 100 parties. The EC is required to examine history of those parties in details dated back to 3-4 years. Economic News The Cabinet approved yesterday (July 21) a one-time payment of 15,000 baht for workers who are insured under Section 33 of the Social Security Act and have been contributing to the social security fund for less than 6 months. The approval is part of the government scheme to compensate employees who have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis but are not covered by the Labour Ministry’s 896.64-million-baht relief package. Around 59,776 workers who are insured under Section 33 of the Social Security Act and have been contributing to the social security fund for less than 6 months are among the targeted groups to receive this one-off payment. The selection committee for Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) has come up with a shortlist of 2 final contenders for the BoT’s top job, with one being an insider and the other an external applicant. The board has finalised 2 names as suitable people, according to Rangsan Srivorasart, chairman of the selection committee. The committee has eliminated 4 the 6 candidates applying for the post after they were asked to give their visions yesterday (July 21).