By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE PHEU THAI, core of the current coalition, has bluntly told the Bhumjaithai, the second largest coalition partner, to return the interior portfolio to the largest ruling party within a couple of days or else the latter could be eventually expelled from the coalition government.
The Pheu Thai under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s father/de facto party boss Thaksin Shinawatra has finally resolved to take the interior portfolio from the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob and has formally called on the latter to respond accordingly within tomorrow (June 19) otherwise the second largest coalition partner would be no longer part of a new cabinet lineup speculated later this month.
The latest Pheu Thai struggle for power over the interior portfolio occurred after a meeting of Pheu Thai MPs and Pheu Thai executive board members had been held and chaired by Paetongtarn at the party’s headquarters yesterday.
In exchange for the interior portfolio, the Bhumjaithai has been offered the public health portfolio, currently held by Pheu Thai-attached Somsak Thepsuthin, plus a Prime Minister’s Office minister’s seat based at Government House.
Titular Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul who used to take charge of the public health portfolio in a previous government has recently softened his verbal insistence on continuing to hold the interior portfolio and suggested that the Pheu Thai-led cabinet be reshuffled as a whole to the extent that the new cabinet lineup practically affect all coalition partners and not just the Bhumjaithai.
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Top and Front Page: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra. Photos: Thai Rath
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