Thailand's economic ministers quit amid coronavirus crisis

Move paves way for Prayuth to appoint favorites to cabinet as economy turns cold

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak became Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's adviser on foreign economic relations shortly after the leader took power in a 2014 coup. Somkid's resignation letter was submitted together with those of three fellow ministers on Thursday. © Reuters

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

July 16, 2020 02:06 JST

Updated on July 16, 2020 15:28 JST

BANGKOK -- Thailand's long-standing economic policy team celebrated the first anniversary of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's cabinet with resignation letters instead of a birthday card, heralding a looming shake-up in the former army chief's governance of the Southeast Asian country.

Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, Energy Minister Sonthirat Sontijirawong and Suvit Maesincee, the higher education and science minister, announced their resignations at Government House on Thursday, ending their role in the country's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak did not appear, but his resignation letter was submitted together with those of his fellow ministers.