Somkid was an economic chief in the government of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He is also a sworn political enemy of Pridiyathorn.

"The appointment of Somkid as chairman of an international economic coordination committee responsible for promoting the Sufficiency Theory to the international community is nothing to do with me," he said.

Somkid's committee would report directly to the prime minister and had nothing to involve with me, said Pridiyathorn who is also Finance Minister.

"I would never resign because of this. I would work as usual and did not feel uncomfortable because of the appointment," he said.

The Nation