Coalition relations sour after Manit steps down

Coalition relations sour after Manit steps down

Relations between the Bhumjaithai Party and the ruling Democrats have reached breaking point over the forced resignation of Manit Nopamornbodee as deputy public health minister, but the minority coalition member cannot afford to quit, a Bhumjaithai source told Bangkok Post on 10/01/10.

This was because Bhumjaithai needed to handle budget allocations under the Thai Khem Khaeng economic stimulus scheme. The party also needed to be sure it had all the resources to prepare for the next general election, the source said.

Democrat deputy leader Witthaya Kaewparadai quit as public health minister on 29/12/09 to take responsibility for a procurement scandal, one day after an independent panel headed by Banlu Siripanich, a former deputy permanent secretary for public health, alleged there was mismanagement of an 86 billion-baht budget.