Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said yesterday (Sept 22) he had completed his list of Cabinet members and that background checks were under way on the proposed appointees.
He said the Cabinet secretariat was carrying out the checks in order to ensure that their qualifications were in line with the law.
"The Cabinet list has been completed. Now the Cabinet Secretariat is doing to the background checks. There are lots of people involved," said the Premier. Although the Secretariat has promised to complete its task as soon as possible, Somchai expects the process to be time-consuming.
The Prime Minister yesterday received many visitors to his home as he was preparing the final Cabinet line-up.
As of last night, the ministerial portfolios involving the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were not complete, but the nominations from five other coalition parties had already been submitted, according to a party source.
Under the PPP quota, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh is expected to become deputy prime minister and foreign minister, with the urgent task of settling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Chavalit has maintained good relations with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and defence minister Tea Banh.
Chalerm Yoobamrung, who served as interior minister in the PPP-led government of Samak Sundaravej, is expected to join the next Cabinet. However, it remained unclear last night whether he would serve as justice minister or deputy prime minister.
This would depend on whether Sompong Amornwiwat, who is currently caretaker justice minister, stays at the ministry or becomes public health minister in the new Cabinet, the source said.
The Cabinet seats that remained unsettled yesterday involved those under the quota system. They include the positions set aside for members of different factions in the party.
As for the seats for other coalition parties, Puea Pandin Party's Pracha Promnok could become deputy PM after party leader Suwit Khunkitti turned down the offer. His decision came after he learned that he was not being given the industry portfolio.
The industry ministry portfolio is expected to go to Anongwan Thepsuthin, leader of the Matchima Thipataya Party. She is now caretaker minister of natural resources and environment.
Caretaker energy minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop, who is from the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, yesterday said she had opted not to be reappointed. Wannarat Charnnukul, a senior figure from Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, is set to replace her at the energy ministry.
Mingkwan Sangsuwan, who is currently caretaker industry minister, is likely to get no position in the new Cabinet, according to the source.
The allocation of Cabinet seats is now mired with coalition quotas, factional squabbling and a game of musical chairs among cronies.
Like the Samak Sundaravej government--which was hatched in Hong Kong--the Somchai administration is being drawn up in London.
Key faction leaders like Newin Chidchob and Yongyuth Tiyapairat allocated seats under instructions from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman. The new PM is the brother-in-law of Thaksin who is currently exiled in London.
Somchai's wife, Yaowapa, advised her brother Thaksin into reserving plum assignments for a clique of MPs from the North. Loyal allies from Chiang Mai were duly rewarded with jobs in the PM's inner circle, and Somchai reportedly agreed to rubber-stamp the deal worked out by his wife and in-laws.
Monday, September 22, 2008
New Thai PM completes his Cabinet
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