Suwat and Sonthaya seeking immediate return to Cabinet

THE NATION

Suwat

BANGKOK: -- Coalition parties are calling for a Cabinet reshuffle, as the 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives will be free to re-enter politics when their five-year ban ends this week.

Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to suddenly change three Cabinet posts. First, Chart Pattana Party wants Suwat Liptapanlop to replace Pongsvas Svasti as Industry Minister.

Second, Phalang Chon Party wants Sonthaya Kunplome to replace his wife Sukumol Kunplome as Culture Minister.

And third, Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut will be dropped from Chart Thai's ministerial quota.

The source said Suwat also requested to be a deputy prime minister too, but the ruling Pheu Thai Party had turned him down, allegedly saying the Industry Ministry was an economic unit that should be supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

Meanwhile, Phalang Chon's Sonthaya was reportedly seeking a bigger ministry. He allegedly wanted the Tourism and Sports Ministry, but the current holders of the ministry - Chart Thai - refused to give it up. So, he has allegedly turned his sights on the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

Asked whether a reshuffle would take place among Pheu Thai ministers, the source said they would possibly do it only after the coalition agreed, to maintain the government's stability. And red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan was earmarked to become a deputy interior minister.

Today marks the end of the five-year political ban for 111 former TRT executives, who plan to hold a ceremony to celebrate the occasion. The event will start at 10am, with merit making in a religious ceremony and the release of pigeons at Pheu Thai Party headquarters, Vichit Plangsrisakul, secretary general of the Thai Rak Thai 111 Foundation, said.

After lunch, they will move to the Rama Garden Hotel for a seminar, with lectures by Bhokin Palakul, Chaturon Chaisaeng, Pongthep Thepkanchana and Veera Musikapong. They will talk about results of the 2006 coup, injustice in Thailand and TRT being disbanded.

"Then, there will be statement reading and if it goes according to schedule, Thaksin Shinawatra will joining the statement reading via Skype." Vichit said.

The former party executives will later gather at the Miracle Grand Hotel for dinner at about 6pm. This will start with shows such as a mock political opera, singing, comedy, and will include talks by the 111 former TRT officials. Vichit expected the party would end at 10pm-11pm - not too late, as some of them will go to Pheu Thai Party to apply to be members at 11am tomorrow.

Vichit said the foundation planned to publish a pocket-book with opinions and feelings of the 111 former TRT executives after the party was dissolved, and Thaksin was part of that. But he said the project was not finished yet and no date had been set for its release.

-- The Nation 2012-05-30

111 previously banned politicians about to join forces with the PTP

What a great image this is for Thailand

and they all want to jump the queue to the feeding trough

Do I understand this correctly,that in this country you don't need to be elected to run the country?

So A is elected and B who was nowhere on the list ,will be in the government.

Troll post and off topic posts have been removed.

Do I understand this correctly,that in this country you don't need to be elected to run the country?

So A is elected and B who was nowhere on the list ,will be in the government.

Not exactly unusual - the UK and US are the same.

Do I understand this correctly,that in this country you don't need to be elected to run the country?

So A is elected and B who was nowhere on the list ,will be in the government.

Not exactly unusual - the UK and US are the same.

I don't know about the US but I am pretty sure in the UK you have to be voted in as an MP before you can become a minister.

Do I understand this correctly,that in this country you don't need to be elected to run the country?

So A is elected and B who was nowhere on the list ,will be in the government.

Not exactly unusual - the UK and US are the same.

I don't know about the US but I am pretty sure in the UK you have to be voted in as an MP before you can become a minister.

Nope - Baroness Warsi is (or could be was by now) a minister without portfolio and sits in the cabinet.

It's all about the trough. You have to understand that the cost of a high-end BMW and Mercedes Benz has increased. Please be more understanding of the needs of politicians.

It is quite funny that Thai politicians can demand and get cabinet portfolios based on a quota system that every one knows about but the sitting PM of whatever party always pretends doesn't exist.

"Second, Phalang Chon Party wants Sonthaya Kunplome to replace his wife Sukumol Kunplome as Culture Minister."

It seems pretty obvious that his wife is a seat warmer who won't last much longer in the cabinet.

"Meanwhile, Phalang Chon's Sonthaya was reportedly seeking a bigger ministry. He allegedly wanted the Tourism and Sports Ministry, but the current holders of the ministry - Chart Thai - refused to give it up."

I agree that Yingluck should give him the Tourism and Sports Ministry. He can always get advice from his political mentor and dad, Kamnan Poh, who is now a permanent tourist following an misunderstanding with the Chonburi District Court about how one of his enemies came to meet an untimely end.

Do I understand this correctly,that in this country you don't need to be elected to run the country?

So A is elected and B who was nowhere on the list ,will be in the government.

Not exactly unusual - the UK and US are the same.

I don't know about the US but I am pretty sure in the UK you have to be voted in as an MP before you can become a minister.

The US doesn't have MP's or PM's. Some of the cabinet positions are appointed and only through a congressional hearing.

It is quite funny that Thai politicians can demand and get cabinet portfolios based on a quota system that every one knows about but the sitting PM of whatever party always pretends doesn't exist.

"Second, Phalang Chon Party wants Sonthaya Kunplome to replace his wife Sukumol Kunplome as Culture Minister."

It seems pretty obvious that his wife is a seat warmer who won't last much longer in the cabinet.

"Meanwhile, Phalang Chon's Sonthaya was reportedly seeking a bigger ministry. He allegedly wanted the Tourism and Sports Ministry, but the current holders of the ministry - Chart Thai - refused to give it up."

I agree that Yingluck should give him the Tourism and Sports Ministry. He can always get advice from his political mentor and dad, Kamnan Poh, who is now a permanent tourist following an misunderstanding with the Chonburi District Court about how one of his enemies came to meet an untimely end.

Tourism and Sports Minister was the Cabinet position that Sonthaya had in the Thaksin administration so I'm sure he's eager to revive those old business connections associated with that chair.

That he takes the Culture Minister position away from his wife this time around speaks volumes for a "culture" where a convicted murderer's son is never obliged to cooperate in the apprehension of his fugitive father.

.

It's all about the trough. You have to understand that the cost of a high-end BMW and Mercedes Benz has increased. Please be more understanding of the needs of politicians.

That recent government ban, on dodgy imports of 'second-hand' premium-cars, was perhaps a bit of an 'own goal' by the politicians, if it has led to an increase in the cost of the basics of civilised-life !

Perhaps PM-Yingluck might put out a statement, to reassure them that the apparent increase, is just a mis-perception ?