Former BOT governor chosen as leader of new right-wing party

BANGKOK, August 6 (TNA) - A former Bank of Thailand (BOT) governor MR Chatumongol Sonakul has been selected as the leader of the newly-set up right-wing Action Coalition for Thailand Party (ACT Party). MR Chatumongol, who is also a former finance minister, was elected with the majority 331 votes to head the ACT Party at a meeting of the party, held at a hotel in Bangkok on August 5, after Anek Laothamatas, a senior academic, withdrew from the race to support MR Chatumongol instead, citing the more appropriateness and qualifications of the former BOT governor. MR Chatumongol thanked for all the votes and the ACT Party's confidence in his leadership, saying he is prepared to drive forward the domestic political agenda as it is now time for all sectors in Thailand to work hand in hand for the further national development, with past disputes left behind. The former BOT chief said he believed that the ACT Party would become a new coalition administration following Thailand's new general election, expected by early next year. MR Chatumongol expressed his view that the next Thai prime minister after the new general election should come from the party-list system, but declined to give any further opinion. The ACT Party has been co-founded by Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the now-defunct, royalist People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), who has announced his support to incumbent Thai Prime Minister General Pratut Chan-ocha. (TNA)