Thailand's TPP stance on the line as ex-general heads ruling party

Prime minister under pressure to dump economic reformers in cabinet reshuffle

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, front center, is flanked by fellow ex-general Prawit Wongsuwan to the left and economic Somkid Jatusripitak to the right in July 2019. (Photo by Rie Ishii)

YOHEI MURAMATSU, Nikkei staff writer

June 29, 2020 06:03 JST

BANGKOK -- The tug-of-war between Thailand's economic reformers and hard-liners took a new turn over the weekend with the rise of a former army chief to head of the biggest party in the nation's ruling coalition.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who served as commander in chief until 2005, became leader of the Palang Pracharat Party in Saturday's party election.