House panel vote ‘no sign of rifts’

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Wednesday played down speculation about a conflict within government coalition partners following a vote on the chairman of the House committee scrutinising the two organic laws related to the new election system.

Democrat Party deputy leader and Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha was chosen to head the committee, beating Paiboon Nititawan, deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), by just one vote.

Mr Wissanu said the matter was not a conflict although it indicated that something was out of place because the issue of the chairmanship should have been finalised by the coalition partners.

He also pointed out that PPRP list-MP Wichian Chawalit who co-submitted the amendment bills was not on the…