Pakorn revealed that he is currently verifying the legal correctness before submitting to the King the removal of Dr. Sorn as NBTC chairperson. Despite Dr. Sorn filing a lawsuit in the Administrative Court, this does not halt the process. He affirmed there is no manipulation or harassment and stressed he does not want a repeat of previous mistakes.
On 4 August 2026 at 15:50 GMT+7 at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt spoke about the submission to the King regarding Dr. Sorn Chaiyapruk’s removal as chairperson of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) after the selection committee’s resolution deemed him unqualified. He said the process is currently undergoing a legal correctness review before proceeding.
When asked whether the Prime Minister can immediately submit the matter to the King, Pakorn said it must follow the law, and the government can only act within those legal boundaries without taking further actions.
Regarding Dr. Sorn’s objection filed with the Central Administrative Court, claiming the resolution was unlawful, and whether this would delay the submission to the King, Pakorn explained that according to NBTC law, filing a lawsuit does not suspend the process.
Asked if the submission process to the King would continue despite the lawsuit, Pakorn reiterated that the government must follow the law. He emphasized that they are not favoring anyone. The NBTC chairperson is selected by the selection committee, which proposes to the Senate for approval before the Prime Minister submits to the King as required by law. The Prime Minister’s role is solely to submit the matter. Whether the decision is right or wrong is not the government’s concern. He stressed there is no manipulation; rather, the government bears responsibility to verify correctness before submission to avoid repeating past mistakes. He added that consultations with the Council of State supported this approach.
When asked if he is confident that the government’s actions are legally sound, Pakorn said he personally has no concerns. “Some say I am helping, others say I am harassing. I am confused because I am just following the law.”
Regarding whether Dr. Sorn still holds the qualification to chair NBTC meetings, Pakorn replied that it depends on NBTC’s meeting rules, and the government cannot interfere.
Asked about criticism of the selection committee concerning whether the Bank of Thailand governor’s membership is based on the individual or the position, Pakorn said the Council of State has clarified that the law clearly specifies the “Governor of the Bank of Thailand” by position. Therefore, the principle must be followed accordingly.