Lt. Col. Thammanat declared he will wait for the Election Commission's certification before confirming government coalition participation, saying he is not afraid of pressure. He noted that the Agriculture Minister’s seat is not just about sitting in an air-conditioned room but requires personally negotiating every sales deal. He expressed concern that a political vacuum in the ministry could affect farmers nationwide.
On 19 Feb 2026 at 16:30, Lt. Col. Thammanat Prompao, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, serving as advisory chairman of the Kla Tham Party, spoke after a meeting of the party’s executive committee and incoming MPs. He said the meeting aimed to align understanding with the incoming MPs following the recent election, in which the party fielded candidates and won 56 constituency seats and 2 party-list seats. He also thanked the public for their trust.
Lt. Col. Thammanat revealed that the party congratulated all incoming MPs and explained that they had originally expected more votes, aiming for 131 MPs divided into 56 in the first tier, 45 in the second, and 20 in the third tier. He added that after the Election Commission certifies the election results, the incoming MPs must prepare to formally report themselves, explain election expenses, and disclose their asset accounts according to legal procedures.
Regarding coalition government direction, Lt. Col. Thammanat stressed that they must wait for the Election Commission's certification before discussions between the incoming MPs and party executives to set the party’s stance. He confirmed that all decisions must be made collectively, not by any individual alone.
Lt. Col. Thammanat added that since 2019, he has been nominated as Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, continuing through 2023, and was named Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister at the end of 2024. He affirmed his readiness for any investigations and willingness to accept any outcomes that arise.
When asked about political pressure, Lt. Col. Thammanat said the party is not afraid of being pressured and is ready to respond if pressured. He noted that politics is not always graceful. He observed that society is overly focused on government formation but neglects the origin of politicians who come from elections. He likened it to: “When in love, boiled vegetable water tastes sweet,” emphasizing that those elected want to win elections, while some unelected individuals desire to be in government.
Lt. Col. Thammanat also said, “In my life, I have never started a fight with anyone, but if someone fights me, they will have nightmares.” However, he confirmed the party does not want to have conflicts with anyone.
Regarding the Agriculture Minister position, Lt. Col. Thammanat stated that whoever holds this role must actively work and not just sit in an air-conditioned room. Especially in negotiating agricultural product sales abroad, which requires technical knowledge and coordination among many parties, it is not solely the Ministry of Commerce’s responsibility.
“Agricultural products are technical goods that require agricultural attachés and related agencies—whether livestock, fisheries, or crops—to explain details. Successful negotiations are not easy,” Lt. Col. Thammanat said, emphasizing that he does not want a political vacuum in the Agriculture Ministry because work must continue uninterrupted; otherwise, farmers will be directly affected.
