Thailand’s beleaguered finance minister, Pridiyathorn Devakula, all of a sudden resigned on Wednesday. The resignation deepened the continuing crisis to hit the military-installed government struggling to restore stability and confidence after the September military coup. The Thai government was completely unaware of these developments and evidently caught off guard by the resignation. The government has not immediately announced a successor for Pridiyathorn. Moreover, the resignation has seriously questioned the future direction of policy-making.
There are reports suggesting that Pridiyathorn quit as he was in disagreements with some cabinet ministers and the appointment earlier this month of Somkid Jatusripitak, former deputy to Thailand’s deposed premier, as an economic adviser. Moreover, Somkid resigned after a week in the service.
Pridiyathorn had earlier held the post of governor for Bank of Thailand and was roped in by Surayud to prop up confidence in the economy after a military coup last year. Currency controls imposed in December last year set off nation’s stock market’s steepest fall in 16 years. Somkid was appointed for the task to explain government policies to foreign investors after company ownership curbs last month enticed condemnation.
Apart from the controversial appointment of Somkid the embattled finance minister was also not happy with certain minister who had acted in favor of a certain media what Pridiyathorn thinks was against the law.
Pridiyathorn has been criticised for a number of policy decisions, including a move to tighten rules for foreign companies that operate in the country.
