New Minister A Tough Call For Yingluck

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

New minister a tough call for PM

Avudh Panananda

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call on whether to shuffle her Cabinet in order to keep her allies happy.

Yingluck has only her political instinct to rely on since there is no ready-made formula to guide her on the issue.

Her overplay or underplay of the ministerial line-up could backfire to undermine her leadership as well as the political stability.

A vacancy in the Cabinet seats has opened up after Chumpol Silapa-archa passed away last week.

Chumpol was appointed under the quota of the Chart Thai Pattana Party to hold concurrent positions of deputy prime minister and minister for sports and tourism.

Under a possible scenario, the junior coalition party is obliged to nominate its candidate for the sports and tourism portfolio.

It will likely assign its Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlaenthong to concurrently become deputy prime minister under its quota.

The game of power is never a simple matter, however.

Chart Thai Pattana chief adviser Banharn Silapa-archa can fill the seats allocated to his party only after receiving a green light from the prime minister.

In order to buy time, PM Yingluck said she would finalise her decision after Chumpol's funeral.

Under the royal-sponsored and family funeral rites, Yingluck's reference to "funeral" could mean a duration ranging from two weeks to 100 days.

Since the Cabinet reshuffle involving some 23 new and old faces in October, at least two groups of Yingluck's allies have been unhappy.

The first group is the red shirts. And the second one is Pheu Thai MPs who thrive under the regional quotas.

Reds' leader Jatuporn Promphan failed to secure a Cabinet seat despite a promise by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The previous reshuffle saw the Pheu Thai's regional quotas obliterated.

If and when the prime minister is to decide, once again, on the Cabinet line-up, she will likely try to limit the changes to a bare minimum so as to avoid upsetting the applecart.

She has three options to line up her Cabinet.

First, the Cabinet might welcome just one new minister who will replace Chumpol.

A variation to this option is to allow the Chart Thai Pattana Party to nominate Chumpol's replacement as well as reallocate its ministerial portfolios.

The limited change, involving only seats allocated to Chart Thai Pattana, can happen only if the prime minister can successfully appease the red shirts and Pheu Thai faction leaders without having to allocate additional Cabinet seats to them.

Judging from the intense lobbying efforts within Pheu Thai and Chart Thai Pattana, the new Cabinet line-up may have to involve more seats than those under the Chart Thai Pattana's quota.

Less than a day after Chumpol's death, leading figures from the two coalition parties started to jockey for Cabinet seats.

A number of allies and MPs in the coalition alliance reportedly flew to meet Thaksin in London.

Second, the prime minister might take the opportunity of replacing Chumpol to allocate a ministerial portfolio to the red shirts.

Government insiders say the prime minister is concerned, however, that Jatuporn would become excess baggage to the government.

If a deal can be worked out to find an alternative figure to Jatuporn, then the red shirts will grab another seat in the Cabinet.

Third, the prime minister might allocate a few seats for MPs under regional quotas in order to compensate for their dwindling influence.

Should this happen, she will likely work out a way to bring Pheu Thai secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai into the Cabinet.

-- The Nation 2013-01-29

[ChrisY1]

I'm pretty sure she can get help (read instruction) with this decision.....

[Ricardo]

Cue hurried flights to Dubai, to lobby their cases for being rewarded, all in the interests of helping the poor naturally !

[Pimay1]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call on whether to shuffle her Cabinet in order to keep her allies happy.

How can Khun Avudh write this with a straight face and publish it when the following is included in the same article?

A number of allies and MPs in the coalition alliance reportedly flew to meet Thaksin in London.

[Robby nz]

Not a thought it would seem as to who might be qualified for which job.

Where are the MP's who were actually elected by the people, thats the constituancy M P'? We never seem to hear anything about them, almost all those at the top are either list MP;s or just those who need rewarding or to appease someone.

Yingluck has only her political instinct to rely on.

Wonder where she got that from considering she had never been in politics before big brother gave her the job.

Taking into account Fuller's article on the other topic we can see where the decision will come from.

[Buchholz]

Reds' leader Jatuporn Promphan

By all means, let's make Jatuporn the Minister of Tourism, as it would be an assured boon to that industry.

.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Buchholz

[Robby nz]

Reds' leader Jatuporn Promphan

By all means, let's make Jatuporn the Minister of Tourism, as it would be an assured boon to that industry.

.

Minister of Prisons would be a better job for him he has experience in that field, or should that be cell?

[Payboy]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call

Nah, just a phone call will do.

[jamhar]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call on whether to shuffle her Cabinet in order to keep her allies happy.

How can Khun Avudh write this with a straight face and publish it when the following is included in the same article?

A number of allies and MPs in the coalition alliance reportedly flew to meet Thaksin in London.

Not such a tough call if you're not making the decisions

[maidu]

Ms Yingluck has to make a decision? Simple, just call clone in Dubai. He makes all other decisions for her, why not this one? No matter that most of his decisions are bad, that's just in keeping with the Shinawatre tradition.

[Tatsujin]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call on whether to shuffle her Cabinet in order to keep her allies happy.

LMAO . . . what it really means is that big brother hasn't decided who will be most advantageous to him as yet and she'll be told who to appoint when he's good and ready. In the meantime, she should smile lots and go buy some new shoes.

[MILT]

Nothing like appointing appointments without pointing a finger. Good Luck to all those pointing to their appointments without being appointed.

[Arkady]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

[Pimay1]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

You might be suprised. After all some of these ministers are a few bricks short of a full load. Case in point. Pushing water out to sea with boat props. Qualifications do not enter into the appointments as we see every time there is a cabinet reshuffle.

[rubl]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

Maybe it's time for an esteemed gentleman from the Pheu Thai party. Sunai Julphongsathorn, a Pheu Thai Party MP from Chum Saeng in Nakhon Sawan Province comes to mind. At least he seemed to have the right 'hospitality' idea required for a Minister of Tourism

http://asiancorrespondent.com/88432/did-a-thai-mp-really-told-thai-women-to-better-marry-a-foreigner/

[Pimay1]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

Maybe it's time for an esteemed gentleman from the Pheu Thai party. Sunai Julphongsathorn, a Pheu Thai Party MP from Chum Saeng in Nakhon Sawan Province comes to mind. At least he seemed to have the right 'hospitality' idea required for a Minister of Tourism

http://asiancorrespo...ry-a-foreigner/

Thanks rubl I had forgotten about this esteemed Phua Thai Party MP who just happens to be the chairman of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs.

“Sitting studying is too slow. Lie down to study, then go to the hospital. They will pay you to have the baby… It’s all free, right up to the shitty diapers.”

[billd766]

She has already had 3 cabinet reshuffles in less than 18 months.

ALL the Ministers in ALL the cabinets were handpicked and of the highest quailty available, or so we have been told.

I just realised that I managed to write that with a straight face and no hysterical laughter.

Quit while I am ahead.

[Buchholz]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

In that regard, then perhaps Jatuporn is the best suited candidate for the position...

NNT - May 18, 2006

TRT Deputy Spokesman denies involvement in a rape case

Thai Rak Thai Party Deputy Spokesman Jatuporn Prompan denies he used to be sued in the Criminal Court for alleged rape.

http://thainews.prd....id=254905170037

.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

It will certainly be tough to find Minister of Tourism who has such an inspired view of violence against women as that demonstrated by Mr Chumpol in his comments that a female Dutch was not raped by a tour guide because they had dinner together. If it happened to his daughter on a trip to Holland he would no doubt have had a different view.

Maybe it's time for an esteemed gentleman from the Pheu Thai party. Sunai Julphongsathorn, a Pheu Thai Party MP from Chum Saeng in Nakhon Sawan Province comes to mind. At least he seemed to have the right 'hospitality' idea required for a Minister of Tourism

http://asiancorrespo...ry-a-foreigner/

Like Jatuporn, selecting Sunai would also satisfy another aspect described in the OP by appeasing the Red Shirts and putting another one of their group on Yingluck's Cabinet.

Pheu Thai M.P. Urges Thai Women: Marry A Farang For An Easier Life

http://www.thaivisa....an-easier-life/

And if further confirmation of his non-brightness is needed, he's a Red Shirt Leader.

Pheu Thai Party MP and Red Shirt Leader Sunai Julphongsathorn

Edited January 29, 2013 by Buchholz

[jbrain]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will soon have to make a judgment call on whether to shuffle her Cabinet in order to keep her allies happy.

With " call " being the leading word.

[hellodolly]

Reds' leader Jatuporn Promphan

By all means, let's make Jatuporn the Minister of Tourism, as it would be an assured boon to that industry.

.

They could put him on stage and let him spout his wisdom.

They would bill him as Thailand's greatest comic.

He would be an instant hit especially when he explains things just come to him.

A sure fire attraction for tourism.

The article neglected to mention when Thaksin was going to let us know who will get the seat and if he is going to add new faces to the cabinet.

Maybe if he has some spare time he can order headlights for his sisters helicopter/

The whole thing is a joke. As a previous poster said not a word about qualifications.

[waza]

I wonder how many fat diplomatic pouches delivered to Dubai does it takes to get a cabinet position?

[Ricardo]

No need to use the government's diplomatic-pouch system,don't want to risk embarrassing the FM (if that's possible), a discreet bank-transfer from Switzerland might do the trick instead, so long as one's lawyer doesn't try to rip one off, by diverting the funds along the way.

Tricky thing, international-banking these days, as the authorities try to reduce money-laundering & criminal-connections. Thank god for the hawala system, and friends in the Middle East !

Edited January 30, 2013 by Ricardo

[Buchholz]

Today, Yingluck announced that Chumphol's Chart Thai Pattana Party had submitted a name to replace him as Tourism and Sports Minister and Party Leader

However, she said there will be no Cabinet shuffle for now.

She also did not reveal the name that was submitted.

.

[Buchholz]

Doesn't say much for the position if it can go unfilled for over 2 weeks now with no announcement of just how long it will remain vacant before it's eventually staffed.

.

[whybother]

Doesn't say much for the position if it can go unfilled for over 2 weeks now with no announcement of just how long it will remain vacant before it's eventually staffed.

The department is probably working much better without the interference of a minister.