Bangkok: Pakorn Nilapraphan has admitted that he is carefully considering an offer from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to join "Anutin's Cabinet 2" as Deputy Prime Minister. He stated that his acceptance is motivated by a desire to advance legal work in the country, while also ensuring he remains unaffiliated with any political party and uninvolved in the Senate collusion case.
According to Thai News Agency, Pakorn's decision to join the government followed Mr. Bowornsak Uwanno's decision not to accept a position in the current administration. Prime Minister Anutin subsequently approached Pakorn, who has over 30 years of civil service experience and four years left before retirement, to contribute beyond his role as Secretary of the Council of State, a position he has held for six years. Initially reluctant, Pakorn was encouraged to help implement ongoing projects and, after consulting with his family, he agreed.
Pakorn confirmed that he would not join the Bhumjaithai Party, emphasizing his intention to remain outside of politics and serve as a political appointee. His goals include developing economic cooperation with the OECD and advancing Thailand's digital government initiatives to enhance the country's legal infrastructure to international standards, ultimately gaining global recognition.
Addressing concerns about becoming a legal advisor serving political interests, Pakorn declared his commitment to serving the nation rather than political entities. He asserted that legal cases, such as the Senate election collusion case, are under the jurisdiction of the judicial process and should not be influenced by the government. Pakorn emphasized the importance of providing accurate information to society and refrained from commenting on any ongoing legal matters, stating that his role does not involve legal cases.