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Politics
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2007-03-01 04:46:17-05
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Thai Finance Minister Resigns
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Bangkok, March 1 - Thai Finance Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula announced his resignation Feb. 28, effective March 1. Pridiyathorn had disagreed with various Cabinet ministers and disapproved of the appointment earlier in the month of Somkid Jatusripitak, former deputy to Thailand's deposed prime minister, as an economic adviser, though Somkid resigned after a week on the job. No replacement has yet been named for Pridiyathorn. The government, apparently caught off guard by the resignation, did not immediately announce a successor to Mr Pridiyathorn, raising questions about the direction of policy-making and internal tensions be-tween the military and General Surayud Chulanont, the prime minister. Announcing his resignation, Mr Pridiyathorn, who had a dual portfolio as deputy prime minister and finance minister, complained he had not received full support from the government that replaced that of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He said he was unwilling to "work under the influence of some people whose behaviour is not entirely transparent especially some ministers". He voiced strong objections to Gen Surayud's now-abandoned plan to recruit Somkid Jatusripitak, a former Thaksin loyalist, as a spokesman to promote the government's policies, saying he suspected a "hidden agenda". Among those identified as his possible successors were Virabongsa Ramangkura, who yesterday resigned suddenly as chairman of the Export-Import Bank of Thailand, and Chatumongkol Sonakul, who was credited with rebuilding the credibility of the state bank after the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Mr Pridiyathorn's departure comes amid deepening gloom at Thailand's growth prospects in an environment of surging economic nationalism, political uncertainty, and growing worries about the threat of more bomb attacks in Bangkok after a series of blasts on New Year's eve. Some interpreted his resignation as an attempt to distance himself from a faltering economy to preserve his prospects for the elections promised by the end of the year, although he has repeatedly denied harbouring any political ambitions.
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