Bank of Thailand Board Chairman Showdown: Kittirat’s Bid Hits Roadblock, Pongpanu Emerges as Frontrunner

The BoT Board Chair Selection Committee has ordered a withdrawal, postponing the selection meeting to November 11 from the original date of November 4, after strong opposition. Be prepared to petition the Ministry of Finance to find someone else to replace “Kittirat”. “Pichai” denies having found anyone to replace him yet, but rumors are spreading! Instead choosing “Pongphanu Sawetrun”, former permanent secretary for tourism.

Ms. Wirekha Santaphan, Secretary of the Committee for the Selection of the Chairman and Qualified Members of the Board of the Bank of Thailand (BoT Board), revealed that Mr. Sathit Limpongphan Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance As the Chair of the Selection Committee , I discussed with the members of the committee. and we saw it together It takes time to consider information thoroughly and completely. In order for the recruitment and selection meeting to be efficient and effective Therefore, the meeting has been postponed from the original date of November 4 to November 11, 2024.

Journalists reported that This time the BoT Board of Directors selection committee meeting has been postponed, with three candidates for BoT Board of Directors chairmanship, namely Kittirat Na Ranong, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister appointed by the ministry the BoTs are Kulit Sombatsiri, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy, and Suraphon Nitikraipot, chairman of the Council of Thammasat University and independent director of PTT Public Company Limited.

why was it seen that way? There is strong opposition. and concerns about political interference with the BoT, especially against Kittirat Na Ranong, former finance minister, the favorite this time. Do Mr. Sathit He consulted the committee The meeting should be postponed first. And there is also news that The selection committee will ask the Ministry of Finance to change the name of the person proposed as prime minister. BoT replaces Mr. Kittirat

Yesterday (November 4) around 10:00 in the area in front. The BoT has representatives from the National Popular Reformist Student Network (CDC), the People’s Center for the Protection of Institutions (CDC) and the Dhamma Army. He came to submit a letter objecting to the choice of BoT Board Chairman and expressed concern that Politics will interfere with the work of the BoT Later, at 10:50 am, Mr. Phichit Chaiyamongkol, leader of the BoT , submitted a letter of objection. and provided the names of those who opposed Ms. Duangporn Rod Peng Sangkhaha Senior Director Strategic Communication and Institutional Relations Directorate, BoT

Mr Phichit said: The PDRC asks Mr Sathit to resign from the selection committee. Because he is an impure person, but he knows that the meeting of November 4, 2024 has been postponed to November 11, 2024, when on that date the network will come to express its intentions again. If no response is received, the rally will be taken to the next level. “We ask Mr. Sathit to resign because we see that I made a mistake after the selection committee, so I would like to submit 20,999 names to the BoT Secretariat Division to present to the selection chairman.”

Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said that the meeting to select the BoT Board Chairman and select qualified BoT Board members has been postponed from November 4, 2024 to November 11, 2024 and notified the Ministry of Finance will appoint a person who will be the chairman of the board. The new BoT At the moment the Ministry of Finance has not yet proposed a new name. why we need to discuss together again The reporter also reported that news recently came that the Ministry of Finance would appoint Mr. Phongphanu Sawetrun, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Chairman of the BoT board to replace Mr Kittirat who had opposed But the Treasury has not yet clearly defined the names of the new candidates. We will have to wait again for clarity on November 8th before bringing it to the meeting on November 11th.