Phumtham’ confirms ‘Paethongtarn’ has the age, qualifications, and political experience, absorbed since she was 8 years old, following her father to give speeches everywhere, believes she will lead the government to safety, declares that the cabinet quota of coalition parties and digital wallets must be reshuffled because it is a new government.
Mr. Phumtham Vejjayachai, acting prime minister, said before entering the House of Representatives meeting to vote on the new prime minister that the coalition parties agreed and expressed their political stances yesterday. This is an opportunity and a role for the Pheu Thai Party. It is something that the Pheu Thai Party will choose the most ready person, a person with potential and ability to continue solving the problems for the people who are currently facing quite a lot.
As for whether all the original coalition parties will still confirm their original ministerial quotas, Mr. Phumtham said that they must wait for Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra. If she is voted t
o be prime minister, it is her right to consider.
When asked whether, according to political etiquette, it must be the original quota, Mr. Phumtham said, ‘No, the original quota.’ When the old government ends, the new government must be led by the new prime minister who will have to discuss with the party leaders who support it. As for whether it will be a new deck, please do not say that because we do not know what the new prime minister will think. We have to wait for consideration.
The part that the original coalition parties support, are there any conditions? That it must be the original quota, because there are rumors that the original coalition parties will use the original quota, Mr. Phumtham stated that he does not know whose opinion it is, but out of courtesy, we talk normally in selecting a new leader that all parties accept, that has the potential to work. The next details must go step by step. We proposed a name, but we are not sure how the council will decide. Saying anything before the council
decides would be considered politically impolite. Today, if the council decides to elect Ms. Paethongtarn as prime minister, the next step is to give Ms. Paethongtarn time to talk to the coalition parties about the current situation and for all parties to think together.
As for Paethongtarn being a member of the Shinawatra family, many people wonder how the country will transition. Mr. Phumtham said that whether the new person will be a member of the Shinawatra family is not a negative factor. The Shinawatra family has been working with the country continuously, using personnel from the family to support them individually. Each prime minister has special characteristics. Today, Paethongtarn has offered herself, and it is up to the public to decide what it is like. What is important is that Paethongtarn has not just entered politics, but has absorbed political situations and issues for a long time since she was 8 years old. I once gave an interview that Paethongtarn had political experience since the founding
of the Thai Rak Thai Party. After that, she followed her father to give speeches everywhere. She was able to listen to a lot of things. After deciding to enter politics, she made her debut in October 2023 in Khon Kaen Province. At first, I was worried that she had just entered politics. While the media interviewed her, Paethongtarn answered well and had the political maturity to answer various issues. She has played a role that has been accepted by the party until she became the current party leader. She can perform her duties as party leader well without any problems. Therefore, the Pheu Thai Party executive committee selected Paethongtarn, which is considered appropriate in all respects. All Pheu Thai Party members support and push for him to become the Prime Minister who will continue to serve the country.
As for whether the digital wallet project will proceed, Mr. Phumtham said that Ms. Paethongtarn will have to talk to the coalition parties before having to announce the government’s policy to the parlia
ment because it is considered the beginning of a new government.
When asked if the digital wallet project is cancelled, the Pheu Thai Party will lose credibility, Mr. Phumtham said that it has not reached that point yet, whether it will be done or not. Therefore, he asked to wait and see the policies of the new government first, which must be discussed with the coalition parties and reach an agreement.
When reporters asked again about rumors that Thaksin Shinawatra objected and wanted the digital wallet project to be canceled, Mr. Phumtham said that he first heard it from the media, not from Thaksin’s mouth or his ears, because during the time he was considering choosing Ms. Paethongtarn, he was on a mission abroad.
As for whether Ms. Paethongtarn’s seniority will be a problem in leading the government, Mr. Phumtham said that it will not be. Politicians today have political maturity. Everything Ms. Paethongtarn has done has come through the political process. Age is not a problem. Let’s look at world leade
rs. He gave the example of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan who is still young, only 40 years old. Today, the trend of the world and the trend of Thailand is not based on age or seniority, but on potential, ability, access to the people, and acceptance from the people.
Source: Thai News Agency