By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE BHUMJAITHAI under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob has pressed the Pheu Thai as core of a current coalition to replace Srettha Thavisin with Paetongtarn Shinawatra as partisan candidate for prime minister, a partisan source said yesterday (Aug.13).
Paetongtarn, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss/deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, would not be so strictly demanding as Srettha when it comes to the allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners, according to the source who only spoke on condition of anonymity.
Paetongtarn and Srettha were among a trio of Pheu Thai contestants for prime minister apart from former justice minister Chaikasem Nitisiri.
Srettha, known as personally associated with deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has reportedly demanded that nobody in a future cabinet practically assume the same portfolio which they may be assuming for the time being, albeit in a caretaker’s capacity.
Such preconditions unilaterally laid down by the real estate mogul-turned-prime ministerial candidate has considerably dissatisfied Newin’s camp which has been running a few immensely-funded portfolios, the partisan source said.
That referred to Bhumjaithai secretary-general Saksayam Chidchob and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul who have been steering the Ministry of Transport as a key economic portfolio and the Ministry of Public Health as a significant social portfolio respectively.
The Bhumjaithai has also lended solid support for the demand bluntly raised by Chart Thai Pattana leader Varawut Silpa-archa to the extent that all portfolios be allocated among the coalition partners ahead of the date on which a prime minister will be named and voted in a joint House/Senate meeting later this month.
It remains to be seen whether the “uncles’ camps” might eventually become part of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government if all the Palang Pracharath and Ruam Thai Sang Chart MPs joined ranks with those who will endorse the Pheu Thai contestant for prime minister.
That referred to Palang Pracharath leader Prawit “Uncle Pom” Wongsuwan and de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss/caretaker prime minister Prayut “Uncle Tu” Chan-o-cha.
CAPTION:
Pheu Thai’s contestants for prime minister Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon
Also read: Pita takes Pheu Thai to task for about-face on ‘uncles’ camps’
Padipat not calling it quits as Deputy House Speaker
Pita kicking off Rayong by-election campaign this evening
Road users beware ‘car mob’ protesters heading for headquarters of 2 parties
Protesters block Pheu Thai headquarters, leaders stuck inside
Angry Chiang Mai activists burn their red shirts
Move Forward told to field Prawit in race against Srettha for premiership
Prayut’s party concerned over Settha’s stance on amending Section 112
One Reply to “Bhumjaithai wants Srettha replaced with Paetongtarn”