By Thai Newsroom Reporters
NO OLD-TIMER politicians will be wholeheartedly welcome in a Bhumjaithai-led cabinet of ministers so they may eventually become “more acceptable” to members of society than earlier anticipated, a partisan source confirmed over the weekend.
The Bhumjaithai, core of the potential coalition government decisively conducted by de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, would willingly prefer no old-timer politicians be named members of cabinet under premiership of Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul in effort to make a relatively “acceptable” image of the elected government in comparison to many of their predecessors, the partisan source said.
Old-timer politicians generally refer to those who may have consecutively, repeatedly assumed ministerial seats such as the likes of the Pheu Thai-attached Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Somsak Thepsuthin, among others. Both have taken charge of varied portfolios and in varied governments over the last few decades.
Suriya and Somsak, both viewed as co-leaders of Sam Mit Group, a faction within the rank and file of the Pheu Thai remotely steered by de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra, had been earlier anticipated to grab ministerial seats under the proportionate quota of the third largest elected party. For instance, Suriya, director of the Pheu Thai electoral campaign, had performed as industry minister and held the transport portfolio whilst Somsak had performed as justice minister and public health minister in previous Pheu Thai-led governments.
However, Suriya might probably have one of his nephews, namely Pongkawin Juangroongruangkit, assume a ministerial seat on his behalf if he was eventually kept at bay to meet demands form Newin’s camp, the partisan source said.
Meanwhile, Yodchanan Wongsawat, nephew of Thaksin’s, and Pheu Thai leader Julapun Amornvivat are largely speculated to be named members of the Bhumjaithai-led cabinet, among others.
For similar reasons pertaining to the “more acceptable image” of the post-election government, Newin’s camp who are obviously holding trump cards over Thaksin’s camp and all other potential coalition partners would ultimately prefer to keep out the Klatham under de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao, the partisan source said.
The potential Bhumjaithai coalition has so far secured a combined force of nearly 300 MPs who will almost certainly vote Anutin for head of government following the nationwide election with coalition partners being allocated cabinet portfolios and ministerial seats in proportion to the number of their respective lawmakers. The nearly 300 coalition lawmakers include 193 Bhumjaithai MPs and 74 Pheu Thai MPs, plus over 30 MPs from splinter parties, most of whom only have one or a few MPs each.
CAPTIONS:
Top – Pheu Thai MP and prime minister candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat with Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Julapun Amornvivat. Photo – Thai Rath
First insert – Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Photo – Amarin TV
Second insert – Pheu Thai MP and prime minister candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat attending a party meeting together with Julapun Amornvivat, the party leader, and Bhumtham Wechayacha, a key figure in the party. Photo – Amarin TV
Front Page – Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Somsak Thepsuthin at a party meeting. Photo – MNG Online
Also read:
No Klatham MPs to vote Anutin for PM unless brought into Bhumjaithai-led coalition
People’s to file duty-negligence, misconduct lawsuit against Election Commission
Bhumjaithai-led coalition finally opts to do without Klatham, Democrats
Central Administrative Court accepts lawsuit over barcoded, QR coded ballots
Police hunting for 3 robbers who stole 2m baht from British chef
Urgent: Soldier loses leg after stepping on landmine
One injured in Yala roadside blast
