Democrat Party Questions Appointment of Energy Permanent Secretary

Matichon•Politics•4d ago

Reader Briefing

The Democrat Party spokesperson questioned the suitability of Chantanont Wannakhejorn's appointment as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.

•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesperson for the Democrat Party, criticized the appointment of Chantanont Wannakhejorn on August 22, 2026.
•Chantanont Wannakhejorn was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy despite having a career background in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
•The Democrat Party questioned whether political closeness was prioritized over specialized technical expertise.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang called for the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy to clarify the evaluation criteria for the appointment.

Overview

•On August 22, 2026, Pongsakorn Kwanmuang of the Democrat Party spoke regarding the appointment of the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang stated that Chantanont Wannakhejorn grew up in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and lacks direct experience in energy policy administration.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang argued that the Ministry of Energy requires a leader with deep structural understanding due to technical complexities and national security issues regarding oil, natural gas, and electricity.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang identified five national agendas for the next 2–5 years, including the new Power Development Plan (PDP) and the transition to clean energy.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang suggested that the continuous appointment of officials from other ministries is a warning sign for Ministry of Energy officials to review their roles.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang requested that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy clarify the suitability and readiness assessment criteria to the public.
•Pongsakorn Kwanmuang emphasized that the public awaits results and sincerity in solving four main energy dimensions, including fair oil pricing and transparent gas price calculations.

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Key Entities

Person

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang(พงศกร ขวัญเมือง)

Spokesperson of the Democrat Party.

Chantanont Wannakhejorn(ฉันทานนท์ วรรณเขจร)

The new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy who previously served in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

Organization

Democrat Party(พรรคประชาธิปัตย์)

The political party represented by spokesperson Pongsakorn Kwanmuang.

Ministry of Energy(กระทรวงพลังงาน)ℹ️

The ministry responsible for national energy security, oil, natural gas, and electricity infrastructure.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives(กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์)

The ministry where Chantanont Wannakhejorn gained professional experience.

Policy

Power Development Plan (PDP)(แผนพัฒนากำลังผลิตไฟฟ้า (PDP))

One of the five national agendas for the next 2–5 years aimed at aligning power production with actual demand.