Latest Reports Claim Paetongtarn Remains In Race For PM Post

Thailand may have a new Prime Minister as soon as tomorrow following yesterday's ouster of Srettha Thavisin as the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) rushed to appoint a successor. Its executive committee is expected to make the final decision on the PM candidate later today. The situation remains fluid, with Khaosod noting that PTP MPs expressed their support for party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra today, despite a flurry of reports last night pointing to preference for Chaikasem Nitisiri.

• The Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) declared its conditional support for the PTP candidate, but said that if it is Chaikasem, then the party would have to hold a presser with its coalition partners denouncing any attempts to change the (in)famous Article 112 or lese-majeste law. BJT leader Anutin Charnvirakul had earlier been mentioned as one of the front-runners to become PM should the PTP give up the opportunity to fill the top post.
• Military-linked Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) Secretary General Thamanat Prompow said that the party will vote for the PTP candidate tomorrow but he was unsure whether party leader Prawit Wongsuwan would attend the vote. Prawit has also been suspected of prime ministerial ambitions, with tensions between himself and Thaksin well documented in local media.
• The Nation reports that hours after the constitutional court's verdict Thaksin Shinawatra ordered the PTP to ditch its flagship THB450bn "digital wallet" scheme, arguing that the economy cannot currently shoulder it. The article claims that Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat changed his stance after receiving instructions from Thaksin and softened his earlier support for the policy, noting that the future of the scheme will depend on the next government.