By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A CABINET RESHUFFLE would be unlikely at any time until after the 2024 budget bill has been finally turned into law in April, confirmed Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Phumtham Wechayachai today (Feb 28).
Viewed as a right-hand man of de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer said it would be unlikely for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to reshuffle his cabinet of ministers until after the 3.48 trillion baht budget bill has passed its final reading at parliament and become law.
Nevertheless, the real estate mogul-turned prime minister, allegedly pushed to rise to power by Thaksin’s sister/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, would not reshuffle his cabinet without the green light from the de facto Pheu Thai boss, according to partisan sources.
Meanwhile, Thaksin’s right-hand man, who concurrently performs as deputy prime minister-cum-commerce minister, declined to confirm or deny speculation that a few cabinet members attached to the Palang Pracharath might probably be reshuffled, among others.
Speculation over a looming cabinet reshuffle has been rife to the extent that Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan would be named either a deputy prime minister in charge of national security affairs or a defence minister in place of Suthin Khlangsang of the Pheu Thai. Prawit had earlier assumed both positions in previous governments.
Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister/Palang Pracharath secretary-general Thammanat Prompao might probably as well be reshuffled to another cabinet portfolio whilst Prawit’s brother/Natural Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan might probably be reshuffled out and replaced by the Palang Pracharath leader, according to the partisan sources.
Nevertheless, the Pheu Thai-backed prime minister would prefer to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a general election rather than step down, regardless of pressing advice from the de facto Pheu Thai boss, if the ruling party’s flagship policies such as the 10,000-baht digital wallet campaign and a southern land bridge project were finally rejected by lawmakers.
Thaksin is more or less speculated to continue to bury the hatchet and prolong a hush-hush, quid pro quo deal with the powers-that-be and ultra-conservative camps who had earlier helped him with last year’s overwhelming votes for the real estate mogul-turned-Pheu Thai candidate as head of government after coup junta-named senators had deliberately blocked Move Forward attempts for the elected premiership.
The secret deal between the powers-that-be and the de facto Pheu Thai boss had not only made Srettha the country’s 30th prime minister but spared Thaksin a single day behind bars upon his return from 17 years of self-exile abroad to otherwise serve his curtailed, one-year sentence for court convicted-misconduct perpetrated during his previous premiership.
A change of the prime minister would probably not occur under the influence of the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole until all the 250 junta-appointed senators, constitutionally empowered to join the ranks of the elected MPs in casting votes for prime minister, have completed their five-year term scheduled for May 11, they said.
CAPTION:
De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, left, and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayacha. Top photo Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Matichon
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