Bangkok: Former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has raised concerns regarding the recent appointment of a new Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, suggesting that the government might not profit from this decision and could potentially incur losses.

According to Thai News Agency, Somchai expressed his views on his Facebook page, "Where are you going with this - Somchai Srisutthiyakorn," highlighting that the appointment does not offer any tangible benefits to the government. He emphasized that the new appointee, who is the Secretary-General of the Council of State, may not bring any added value, as the position merely shifts from the back row to the front without introducing a new legal perspective.

Somchai questioned the necessity of this appointment, especially when the Office of the Council of State already functions as the government's legal advisor, with its Secretary-General attending every Cabinet meeting to provide legal opinions when required. He argued that appointing the same individual to the Deputy Prime Minister position does not enhance the legal advisory capacity, as the duties would remain unchanged.

The former Election Commissioner also contemplated the long-term benefits of this appointment, considering the appointee has three more years of service left. Somchai speculated whether the appointment would be advantageous if the individual chose to leave the position after a short tenure, leading to further transitions.

One undeniable outcome of this appointment, Somchai noted, is the potential for numerous promotions within the Council of State. As one person advances, it opens up opportunities for others to ascend the ranks, which could lead to a cascade of promotions across various levels within the organization.