By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE FIRST ROUND OF cabinet reshuffle is largely anticipated as soon as Songkran festival is over later this month now that the Pheu Thai-led government has run the country for seven months, according to partisan sources.
Attached to the ruling Pheu Thai under de facto party boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin would likely give up his finance portfolio of which he has been taking charge in concurrent fashion and be replaced by Stock Exchange of Thailand chair Pichai Chunhavajira as finance minister, according to the sources who only spoke on condition of anonymity.
In letting go of the finance portfolio, the real estate tycoon-turned-prime minister quietly promoted by Thaksin’s sister/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra would likely be named defence minister in place of Suthin Khlangsang whilst a deputy defence minister is more or less anticipated to help Srettha run the armed services.
Thaksin will undoubtedly continue to have the final say, if not himself initiating change, toward the speculated cabinet reshuffle affecting any Pheu Thai cabinet members with Pheu Thai wheeler-dealer Phumtham Wechayachai, who was named a deputy prime minister-cum-commerce minister, quietly performing as his right-hand man, the partisan sources said.
Given legal loopholes, the de facto Pheu Thai boss would merely look as if he legally had no part to play in any business of the ruling party despite the hearsay that the “critically ill” Thaksin had literally manipulated the jaw-dropping setup of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government without the Move Forward, the compromise-based allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners and the unrivalled naming of his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Pheu Thai leader.
Over the past decades, Thailand has had a few civilian prime ministers assume the post of defence minister in concurrent fashion, namely Yingluck, Chuan Leekpai and the late Samak Sundaravej.
In the first round of cabinet shake-up, speculated to follow Songkran festival, Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew would be reshuffled out alongside Suthin, among others, the partisan sources said.
Both Suthin and Chonlanan might probably be no longer given ministerial seats and instead be assigned to direct and control performance of their fellow Pheu Thai MPs at parliament – the role which they had competently played in previous years.
Meanwhile, a few coalition partners, namely the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, the Palang Pracharath led by party leader Prawit Wongsuwan and the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/former prime minister/now privy councillor Prayut Chan-o-cha might probably as well have their respective ministers reshuffled.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Both photos: Thai Rath
Insert: Stock Exchange of Thailand chair Pichai Chunhavajira. Photo: Thai Rath
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