Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha looks at an army of reporters as he is leaving Government House on Friday. Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong, Higher Education, Science and Innovations Minister Suvit Maesincee, and Kobsak Pootrakul, deputy secretary-general of the prime minister, submitted their resignations on Thursday, a day after Somkid Jatusripitak resigned as deputy prime minister of the economic team. These cabinet seats are believed to have been the prime minister's quota, so the fact the trio relinquished them showed Gen Prayut was losing his bargaining power, according to Mr Somjai. Following the resignations, Gen Prayut admitted he had approached "outsiders" to join the economic team and fill his quota of cabinet seats. Mr Kan is tipped to fill the seat left vacant by Mr Somkid and Mr Preedee for the finance portfolio.

Source: Bangkok Post July 17, 2020 23:03 UTC