Ministers responsible for own mistakes, says Wissanu

The cabinet will not take responsibility if four cabinet ministers at the helm of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPP) make a misstep, said Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Mr Wissanu was responding to questions about a potential conflict of interest in the lead-up to the election as the four ministers remain in the government despite joining the PPP.

The four cabinet members have faced mounting calls to step down to prevent abuse of authority or the misuse of state resources during the campaign.

At the party’s launch in late September, Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana was chosen as party leader and Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee as its deputy leader.

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong was named party secretarygeneral and Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakool was selected as the spokesman.

Mr Wissanu said the ministers are expected to be aware of the “dos and don’ts” as specified by the law and if they cross the line, they will have to take responsibility for their actions.

He also said the issue has been raised during the cabinet meeting, and that this is not the first time ministers have been engaged in politics while still serving.

The deputy premier denied any knowledge of whether these ministers plan to step down to be eligible to contest the polls after the organic law on elections of MPs takes effect on Dec 11.

He added a planned meeting with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and political parties to discuss the lifting of the political ban should take place before the law takes effect.

Buddhipongse Punnakanta, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, yesterday said that critics may want to consider the fact that no one resigned when previous snap elections were called.

The former Democrat politician said he has yet to decide whether he will step down from his post, but stressed that he cannot curry favour with anyone.

Mr Buddhipongse, co-leader of the nowdissolved People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), was also made a PPP executive.

Varawut Silpa-archa, a member of the Chartthaipattana Party, said that the ministers are not legally required to resign, but urged them to act in the country’s best interests.

“Previously, when the House was dissolved, no cabinet ministers resigned. They served as caretaker ministers until a new government was formed,” he said.

He said it would be the Election Commission’s job to decide if their decision to stay on violates the constitution.