By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin today (Apr. 16) downplayed speculation he himself would likely replace Suthin Khlangsang as defence minister in concurrent fashion, repeatedly saying nothing about an imminent cabinet reshuffle can be confirmed by him for the time being.
Srettha has remained non-committal to any hush-hush moves toward the first round of a cabinet reshuffle, saying nothing about it can be said with clarity at the moment though many people may anticipate it even sooner than later.
The Pheu Thai-backed prime minister has been largely expected to leave the seat of finance minister which he has been assuming in concurrent fashion since Day One of the Pheu Thai-led government to Stock Exchange of Thailand chair Pichai Chunhavajira and instead to take the seat of defence minister concurrently as well.
“That I have occasionally held talks with military commanders does not necessarily mean I would probably assume the portfolio of defence.
“Since I have held talks with the commerce minister, undersecretary for commerce and directors-general of the Ministry of Commerce every once in a while, why wouldn’t you speculate about my assuming the portfolio of commerce, too?,” the prime minister asked reporters without expecting a response.
If the prime minister took over the post of defence minister in concurrent manner, a retired army general would likely be named a deputy defence minister to help the civilian Srettha run the armed services, partisan sources said.
The real estate mogul-turned-prime minister today visited de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra at the latter’s Chan Song Lah residence on the Thonburi side of the capital.
Srettha, quietly promoted to rise to power, albeit in allegedly by-name-only manner, by Thaksin’s sister/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, categorically denied he had discussed the anticipated cabinet reshuffle with the de facto Pheu Thai boss during his 20-minute visit.
Nonetheless, Thaksin is largely viewed as the person behind the scenes with a final say over the purely political business of reshuffling Pheu Thai members of cabinet whilst Srettha practically can by no means overpower the de facto boss of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, the Palang Pracharath, the third largest coalition partner led by former deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan, is expecting the naming of Palang Pracharath MP Pai Lik as a new member of cabinet in the first round of cabinet reshuffle, now speculated as soon as next week.
But Palang Pracharath MP Attakorn Sirilatthayakorn might probably be chosen instead of Pai who had been denied a ministerial seat at the last minute of last September’s line-up of the Pheu Thai-led cabinet, they said.
Pai is viewed as personally close to Palang Pracharath secretary-general/Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Thammant Prompao.
CAPTION:
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visiting de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, above, and waving to supporters outside the latter’s house, Front Page. Top photo: Naewna, Front Page photo: Thai Rath
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