Who Will Be The Lucky Ones?: Thai Cabinet Reshuffle

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Who will be the lucky ones?

The NATION

The sign that the Yingluck Shinawatra government is heading for a Cabinet reshuffle has become clearer after "The Big Boss" - former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - signalled from Hong Kong that "The Cabinnet reshuffle will take place after the New Year. No need to wait until May when the political ban on 111 [former Thai Rak Thai Party executives] ends."

Thaksin has already settled conflicts with coalition partners, including Chart Thai Pattana's de-facto leader Banharn Silapa-archa relating to Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, and Ruam Chart Pattana's Suwat Liptapanlop related to Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul.

As always, factions in the Pheu Thai Party have been meeting Thaksin to seek favour, and spread rumours through the media.

Those who expect some ministerial posts, and some who have been "promised" positions when the three-month reshuffle cycle comes, work especially hard.

"Rumours about a Cabinet reshuffle were spread earlier, before the no-confidence debate against Justice Miister Pracha Promnok who was the director of the Flood Relief Operations Centre on November 27, saying Thaksin was very angry with the Cabinet for not helping the premier and letting her work alone. While she felt disheartened, Thaksin asked her to stay in the position and promised he would take care of the reshuffle. It was agreed that many ministers' performance is not satisfying," a source, who asked not to be named, said.

However, after the debate, the reshuffle news was muffled amid speculation that it would wait until the suspended 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives are freed from their political ban.

"But I still believe that each time the report of a reshuffle is spread, it means the Big Boss wants to shake up Cabinet members, especially from the Pheu Thai Party, to do their job," a key Pheu Thai member said.

Ministers from Pheu Thai who are the targets this time include the Social Development and Human Security minister and PM's Office ministers. Other ministries targeted are also under Pheu Thai, including Education Ministry and Transport Ministry, whose deputy ministers flew to Hong Kong many times to complain to Thaksin that the minister had "monopolised power". Deputy Transport Minister Kittisakdi Hathasongkroh also flew to see Thaksin this time. The ministers later joined a press conference rebutting the reports of conflict.

Education Minister Worawat Auapinyakul might have made a name according to the party's policies, but his two deputies Boonreun Srithares and Surapong Ueng-ampornvilai remain unrecognised and have no achievement to show the public.

No worries for Pracha and Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit who, despite no clear achievement, have been taking the blame for Yingluck and stood beside her many times.

Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha is also very strong and irreplaceable due to his connections with the military and Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanond who has been seen as opposed to Thaksin.

Any minister removed this time will face double jeopardy as he will lose both ministerial and MP seats. Most of the Cabinet members had resigned as MP to pave the way for Pheu Thai party-list MP candidates to get the MP posts.

Looking at the other side, many people in Pheu Thai Party are excited to get the ministerial seats.

Wattana Muangsuk is one of them. He was earlier a justice minister candidate before Pracha took the seat. In and outside the House, he is still secretly working on reconciliation.

Meanwhile, party secretary-general Jarupong Ruangsuwan was a candidate for labour minister before Phadermchai Sasomsap got the seat according to the quota of MPs from the Central.

Jarupong made his name when he mended the rifts between the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on solving flood problems.

"Following reports of a Cabinet reshuffle plan, all factions in Pheu Thai will unavoidably do everything to get the seats. This might be a minor reshuffle for the Yingluck government. But the major reshuffle expected in May would be for the members of the House No 111 who are the "real players". Missing this chance could mean missing the seat forever," a key Pheu Thai member, who asked not to be named, said.

All eyes are now on Thaksin's decision as to who will be the lucky ones this time.

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

[Jingthing]

So have they officially given up the ruse that the smiley crying lady makes any decisions?

[Buchholz]

So have they officially given up the ruse that the smiley crying lady makes any decisions?

Unofficially, that began 49 days before the last election, when she was selected by the decision-maker to represent him.

.

[Ricardo]

Didn't Noppadon rcently say that Thaksin was nothing to do with any Cabinet-reshuffle, which anyway wasn't going to happen, and it was all within the fragrant Ms-Yingluck's purview ?

Now we hear that DL has been negotiating with coalition-parties, and the reshuffle will come after the New Year, after all. How can these things both be true ?

Is it any wonder that many farangs find it hard to believe anything these politicians say, and as many poor Thais are discovering, their electoral-promises are merely flim-flam to fool the voters. It's difficult to find any credibility or integrity in this mob.

Edited December 8, 2011 by Ricardo

[JohnAllan]

Who will be the lucky ones? On experience to date, certainly not the electorate.

[barryofthailand]

The first thing the Prime Minister needs to do is to get rid of Chalerm, which will probably never happen.

[OzMick]

The Education Minister has made a name for himself - forum rules prevent me from using it.

Could anyone enlightem me as to his achievements in government, other than draining the funds from the textbooks and clothing subsidy scheme to pay for the yet to be seen tablets?

[OzMick]

Silly me! I forgot about the B15,000 new graduates salary that teachers are NOT getting.