Headlines summary as of 28 October 2021

News

• It is reported that the PM will head the CCSA meeting on 29 October to further easing the restriction in preparation for the 1 November reopening scheme.—Prachachat Turakij

Politics

• The turbulence within the main-ruling Palang Pracharat Party to kick the fallen from grace secretary-general Captain Thammanat will likely to be concluded on 28 October:

• Media citing sources in the PPRP that the Deputy PM and party leader met with main figures who want to oust Capt Thammanat on Wednesday morning. The party leader was reportedly defending the current secretary-general and said that “if it is not Thammanat, then who will take the position?”. When some key figures said that the PM might set up a new party if Thammanat stays, General Prawit said “if the PM is to set up a new party, he will withdraw from politics”.—Naew Na
• Amidst the unconfirmed reports that 8 to 9 PPRP executives have submitted their resignation letter, the Labour Minister and an anti-Thammanat figure Suchart Chomklin came out to admit that he has signed the letter. The Minister denied any PM involvement in this resignation.—Krungthep Turakij
• Captain Thammanat posted on his FB Page last night that even without political position, he remains devoted to work for the people. He said that he is not a conventional politician who is good at public speaking, but he is the person who can deliver.—Krungthep Turakij
• There are other related developments, including the rearrangement of government whip meeting venue from Parliament to that of Government House. The deputy PM secretary said that the arrangement aims to deepen the Executive-Legislative nexus. The first government whip meeting at the new venue will start from 8 November.—Thai Rath

• It is argued that the rearrangement was due to distrust the PM have over the government whip who is reportedly side with Captain Thammanat.
• The government whip Wirat Rattanaset gave an interview denying the reports as there have been a number of places where the government whip convene.—Inside Thailand
• On the other side of the House aisle, main opposition Pheu Thai Party also held its national convention at the North-eastern province of Khon Kaen. Here are the developments so far:

• Sompong Amornvivat, the party leader, announced his resignation allowing the party to nominate its new executives. The daughter of ousted and self-exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra was also present at the convention.–ThaiPBS
• Peathongtarn Shinawatra was also nominated as the party advisor.—Krungthep Turakij
• It is likely that a vocal MP from Nan province Chonlanan Srikaew will be nominated as the party leader to modernise the party management.—Khao Sod
• Siam Rath regarded the presence of main figures prior to the convention has indicated that former partner to Thaksin has returned to dominate the party.—Siam Rath

Analysis/ opinion

• Thai Enquirer, citing sources in the PPRP, made an analysis of the ramification of whether to push Captain Thammanat out of the leadership position.

• The removal of Thammanat from the leadership post is problematic for the ruling party as it is likely that Thammanat would not leave lightly and that he might take 20 MPs with him, leaving the coalition stability in question.
• However, if Thammanat is to stay, it is likely that Prayut will form his own party ahead of the next elections and that would leave PPRP losing its strongest attributes.

Economic:

CPTPP 

• DPM Supattanapong said at a forum entitled Creating Thailand Desirable Future that the government plans to participate in CPTPP and pursue an FTA with the EU in 2022 to create an attractive environment to draw foreign investment.  Additionally, the government has also laid down an ecosystem covering infrastructure development, investment in clean energy, electric vehicle promotion and investment in R&D to lure investments and boost economic growth in 2022.  Also for next year, the government eyes implementing 100 infrastructure projects worth 2 trillion Baht, especially in the EEC and the EEC of Innovation (EECi).  DPM Supattanapong reiterated that the Long Term Resident Visa Package will attract income from foreigners to boost the tourism sector that has yet to recover from COVID-19 in the next 1-2 years.
  Source: Bangkok Post Krungthep Turakij newspaper, 28 October 2021
• The government is urged to simplify money transfers and provide more medical staff to support wealthy foreigners to own properties in Thailand through the Long Term Resident Visa package. TDRI noted the Thai economy will struggle to recover if it is not driven by the property sector.  A Long Term Resident service Center is being established and is slated for completion in Q2 of next year.  Source: Bangkok Post
• State run financial institutions are ready to provide liquidity to the 175000 business operators in the EEC area as per the directive of Finance Minister Arkhom.  Source:  Bangkok Post  Krungthep Turakij
• Industry Ministry expects to revise the Manufacturing Production Index growth for 2021 up from 4-5 percent next month as the country is set to reopen in November. Source: Bangkok Post
• The economy is anticipated to grow by more than 1 percent this year, bolstered by improved exports and government measures as well as a gradual recovery in tourism, announced Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith.  Sources: Prachachat Turakij  Bangkok Post
• Tourism operators have called for reciprocity on Thailand’s reopening, urging the government to launch travel bubbles with other countries to remove quarantine on both sides. Source: Bangkok Post