Thammanat Excuses Himself from Cabinet Meeting After Anutin's Absence

Thammanat excused himself from the Cabinet meeting after Anutin was unavailable and unable to attend, amid discussions about potential government collaboration. At 10:00 AM on February 17, 2024, at Government House, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, assigned Deputy Prime Minister Sopon Saram to chair the Cabinet meeting in his place due to morning commitments. In the afternoon at 13:10, the Prime Minister traveled to Songkhla province to preside over the royal cremation ceremony for Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, director of Phatong Prathan Khiriwat School, at Yung Thong Temple in Bang Klam District. Later in the evening, the Prime Minister was scheduled to chair a security meeting at Military Circle 42 in Hat Yai District. Seven ministers announced their absence from this Cabinet meeting, including 1. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior 2. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport 3. Athakorn Sirilatthayakorn, Minister of Tourism and Sports 4. Thanakorn Wangboonkhongchana, Minister of Industry 5. Sabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture 6. Maj. Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives 7. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister. Particular attention was drawn to Maj. Thammanat's absence from the meeting, amid ongoing discussions about collaboration with the Bhumjaithai Party. On February 16, Thammanat had mentioned the possibility of discussing matters with Anutin during the February 17 Cabinet meeting, with reports suggesting he might be heading to work at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.