Labor Minister Chulaphon Laughs Off Panut's Thaksin Backing Claim
Labor Minister Chulaphon Amornwiwat dismissed claims by former social security official Panut Thai Luen that he and ex‑Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra were supporting his campaign. Chulaphon said he had met Panut only once, on unrelated topics, and has had no contact with him since before the election. He insisted he would not interfere in the social security board vote.
Panut Thai Luen, a former social security committee member and president of the State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation, told reporters that the progressive social security team won high scores because it had political backing, adding that he could use his past ties to the Pheu Thai Party to seek help from Thaksin Shinawatra and Chulaphon Amornwiwat. Speaking at the Ministry of Labour on October 12, 2026, Chulaphon responded, laughing, that he had no intention of interfering in the election, had not talked to Panut since before the vote, and that their only prior meeting was about unrelated issues. He said any future encounters would be casual, but they would not discuss election matters.
