Next Month's Thai Cabinet Reshuffle Not A Major Shake Up

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Next month's reshuffle not a major shake up

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

It is likely that only members of the ruling Pheu Thai Party would be affected by the Cabinet reshuffle, with coalition partners like Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Chon, and Ruam Chart Pattana left untouched.

Earlier, there were reports that the changes, expected to take place in January, would only target ministers responsible for handling the flood crisis.

The first target was supposed to be Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit for failing to deal with the severe flooding, and the second was to be Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut - considered to be the root cause of the problem.

Theera, who hails from Chart Thai Pattana Party, admitted that he had asked the Irrigation Department to delay releasing water from Bhumibhol Dam so that farmers could harvest their crops first.

Several experts have faulted the government for not lowering the level of water in the reservoirs earlier in the wet season instead of waiting until the rainy season reached its peak last month.

Members of the Pheu Thai Party called on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to take the agriculture portfolio back from Banharn Silpa-archa's Chart Thai Pattana Party. Yet, few know about the close ties shared by the ruling party's de-facto leader Thaksin Shinawatra and Banharn.

"They have a mutually beneficial relationship and depend on each other a lot. Otherwise, Banharn, whose party only has 19 MPs in hand, would never have been given a big portfolio like agriculture," a source from Chart Thai Pattana said.

Thaksin's decision to not mess with any of the coalition partners' quotas is regarded as a good one.

Building a trustworthy alliance would help his sister's government get full support and cooperation from partners, especially during tough times.

Plus, the coalition partners can help Pheu Thai push through its "urgent agenda" such as setting up an amnesty law to pave the way for Thaksin's return, amending the Constitution and the Defence Ministry Administration Act. The ruling party plans to bring up these issues in the next House session on December 21.

The amnesty law will certainly be beneficial for all, because not only is it good for Thaksin and the other 110 banned politicians from the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, but it will also help the 109 banned politicians from the now-defunct People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thippataya parties.

In addition, this will earn loyalty from the coalition partners and ensure that they do not defect to the opposition Democrat Party.

Even though coalition partners have a significant number of seats at 33, they do not have enough power to shake the government. Yet, it is perhaps better and safer for Pheu Thai, which has 265 MPs, to not be a single-party government otherwise, they stand to face attacks from several party factions as well as be criticised as parliamentary dictators.

Like Thaksin said when his sister's government was being formed: "Flowers in a vase will only survive if there are some ferns alongside to make the arrangement beautiful."

Besides, maybe this upcoming reshuffle is not as important as the one expected after May, when the 111 banned politicians complete their suspension period. As far as one can see, this restructuring might even include the prime minister's post.

-- The Nation 2011-12-15

[laurentbkk]

By the way ,any news about the money found at the minister of Transport ?????????????? already a dead story ?