Business chiefs want Pridiyathorn as prime minister
Business leaders have called for the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy to pick Bank of Thailand (BOT) Governor MR Pridiyathorn Devakula to serve as interim prime minister.
Pridiyathorn has emerged as the front runner for the premiership, even though he said on Wednesday he had not been approached by the council. Council leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said a civilian would be picked within two weeks to become interim prime minister.Bangkok Bank chairman Chatri Sophonpanich said yesterday he supported Pridiyathorn becoming the new premier. He said the new prime minister would be well received by Thais and foreigners alike if he or she had a background in economics, and that Pridiyathorn fit the criteria. Nonetheless, he noted that solving the problems in southern Thailand would also be an urgent task for the new PM. "The country is facing these two core problems now, but I think becoming prime minister should entail sufficiency in economics. The southern unrest can be handled by the military," said the chairman of the Kingdom's largest bank. Securities and Exchange Commission secretary-general Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala said Thailand could greatly restore foreign-investor confidence with a premier who had cultivated respect from them. "MR Pridiyathorn Devakula would especially draw back foreign-investor confidence with his extensive knowledge of economics," said Thirachai. Stock Exchange of Thailand chairman Vijit Supinit said he hoped the new government would proceed with the mega-project investment. "It's vital for the country. This investment should foster sustainable economic development," he said.
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