Former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul delivers a closing statement to the National Legislative Assembly, which later voted to impeach him on March 29, 2017. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)Surapong Tovichakchaikul, a former foreign minister, has resigned as member of the Pheu Thai Party after being banned from politics for five years. He submitted the resignation letter to Pol Lt Gen Viroj Pao-in, the acting Pheu Thai leader, on Thursday. Mr Surapong said he did not want what he would do in the future to be linked to Pheu Thai because the new political party law being considered by the NLA might impose unexpectedly harsh penalties. Pol Lt Gen Viroj said the party respected Mr Surapong's decision and hoped he would rejoin Pheu Thai in the future when the situation changed.

Source: Bangkok Post April 27, 2017 09:00 UTC