New Cabinet set to take office by next month

By THE NATION

 

 

PM DENIES RUMOURS THAT HE WOULD HEAD DEFENCE MINISTRY; STAYS MUM ON NEW FACES

 

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha has decided on his reshuffle of ministers and confirmed yesterday that he would not take the Defence portfolio in the new Cabinet.

 

He said the list is in the process of seeking royal endorsement and was expected to be settled by next month.

 

Prayut said his military senior classmates Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, and his close friend Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, would remain in the Cabinet.

 

Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda will continue as national police chief.

 

“Please end all this Cabinet [speculation] today,” Prayut said yesterday. 

“I’ve finished the list but there is still paperwork to do. It is now in the process of seeking royal endorsement and it could be [completed] by December. Is that okay? Please calm down.” 

 

“I’ve done my best. And I did it alone as it’s my authority,” he said.

 

Prayut yesterday clarified on some of the changes after revealing earlier this month that the three-year-old government would |go through its fourth Cabinet reshuffle. 

 

The premier had also said that he might reduce the number of military generals in the Cabinet and replace them with civilians.

 

Speculation about the prime positions in the Cabinet rose after Labour Minister General Sirichai Distakul resigned following internal conflicts involving other ministries and Prayut’s close senior aide, General Prawit.

 

General Prawit Wongsuwan 

 

Local media have reported that Prawit might lose his defence post due to his frail health.

 

Prayut reiterated yesterday that he would not head any other ministry. 

 

“I’m overseeing all ministries. It is the PM’s policy to oversee their vision and performance,” Prayut said.

 

Although Prayut said Chatchai would remain in the Cabinet, he kept mum on which department he would be moved to.

 

The premier also brushed aside speculation that some politicians might return in this reshuffle and declined to reveal the number of new faces in the list.

 

Among speculated candidates is Yukol Limlamthong, a former agricultural and cooperatives minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra government. Yukol is considered top-notch but also has close ties with the Chart Thai Pattana Party.

 

General Chaichan Changmongkol

 

NLA member resigns

 

Meanwhile, former Defence permanent secretary General Chaichan Changmongkol yesterday submitted his resignation from the National Legislative Assembly amid speculation that he might be appointed to a post in the new Cabinet.

 

A military source close to Prawit brushed aside the possibility that Prayut would take over the Defence Ministry. 

 

Prawit is not only “like a brother” to Prayut, they reasoned, but also capable of controlling the military.

 

The source said it was a common practice among several former PMs such as Yingluck Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej and Chuan Leekpai, to head the Defence Ministry.

 

“Considering Prawit’s capability to take care of the military during the past three years, everyone should be able to see the answer already,” the source said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30331907

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-18

6 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Prayut said his military senior classmates Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, and his close friend Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, would remain in the Cabinet.

 

Phew!!!

 

I was getting deeply worried that the new cabinet might have a focus on competence.

 

Great to see that nothing will change...

 

Quote

“I’ve done my best. And I did it alone as it’s my authority,” he said.

What the word again, for a country ruled by one person who holds absolute power and makes all the important decisions by himself...

 

Its at the tip of my tongue... something with a D and its the oppositie of democracy....

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Prayut said his military senior classmates Deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, and his close friend Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya, would remain in the Cabinet.

 

Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda will continue as national police chief.

 

“I’ve finished the list but there is still paperwork to do. It is now in the process of seeking royal endorsement and it could be [completed] by December. Is that okay? Please calm down.” 

 

“I’ve done my best. And I did it alone as it’s my authority,” he said.

Prayut has to be the dimmest bulb in the box. Cabinet reshuffle no.4 and he still has neither the guts nor the brains to appoint experienced technocrats to key positions, in place of his barracks buddies.

He must know, beyond shadow of doubt, that the most underperforming wing is the RTP, with urgent reform needed at every level from crime reduction, law enforcement and cleaning the corruption slate, yet he cannot make the glaringly obvious decision to sack both the Interior Minister, Anupong and the police chief, Chakthip. He is such a coward when it comes to the big calls, yet he fancies himself in front of the media, with his offensive quip, "Is that okay? Please calm down.” The man is a born loser.

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

“I’ve done my best. And I did it alone as it’s my authority,” he said.

 

 

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Please end all this Cabinet [speculation] today,”

Guess what else needs to end immediately.

But he won't leave.