Thai cabinet appoints new PM: minister


Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan. Source: file photo

BANGKOK, May 7, 2014 (AFP) - The Thai cabinet appointed a new caretaker prime minister on Wednesday shortly after Yingluck Shinawatra was removed from office by a court for abuse of power, a minister told reporters.

"The cabinet has agreed to appoint Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to act as caretaker prime minister," Phongthep Thepkanjana, a deputy prime minister said.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-07

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PROFILE
From 'image-maker' to interim PM
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- New caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan appeared to have been brought into the government to boost Yingluck Shinawatra's public image, while he was PM's Office minister in 2012. The new premier also holds the Commerce portfolio.

Now 66, he entered politics in 2011 as Pheu Thai's party-list MP .

Before that, as an executive for IBM Thailand, Niwattumrong began building ties with former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

He quit IBM in 1990 and became manager at a Thaksin-owned computer firm. He then moved up to become a deputy chief executive officer of Shin Corp before rising to CEO of iTV in 2001. He took up monkhood for three years after Thaksin bought iTV.


-- The Nation 2014-05-08

interesting that the cabinet can appoint a PM

interesting that the cabinet can appoint a PM

dissapointed ?

...it will finally dawn on the Suthepistas that it is business as usual...

He seems to be not that bad but also very closely linked to Shin Corp. The Democrats hoped that the whole cabinet will be fired, thanks Buddha this didn't happened.

Congratulation Khun Niwattumrong.

He seems to be not that bad but also very closely linked to Shin Corp. The Democrats hoped that the whole cabinet will be fired, thanks Buddha this didn't happened.

Congratulation Khun Niwattumrong.

that will come with the rice...next.

...it will finally dawn on the Suthepistas that it is business as usual...

Business as usual? or corruption as usual?

Good choice. He did a stellar job with the rice scheme. Let's see if he can bring his special brand of mojo to the prime ministers seat. A true poster boy for transparency, accountability, and decent moral conduct. Encore PTP!

Pretty damn rediculouse, removing a PM like that..one swift kick in the balls for democracy . In Thailand

Well as long as it isn't Nattawut Saikua!

interesting that the cabinet can appoint a PM

dissapointed ?

sounds a bit strange. Parliament and if there is none Senate would feel more logic to me.

Just another Shin fanboy to remove from office... PTP keep rolling them out, and the courts will keep taking them down.

3 Shin's have been removed in recent history... Another one won't matter

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So looks like the final battle is still on for the 14th then.

Ex chairman of Shin Corp - laughably predictable.

Good choice. He did a stellar job with the rice scheme. Let's see if he can bring his special brand of mojo to the prime ministers seat. A true poster boy for transparency, accountability, and decent moral conduct. Encore PTP!

Would he get any problems with the NACC?

Else it will be a very short term...

interesting that the cabinet can appoint a PM

dissapointed ?

sounds a bit strange. Parliament and if there is none Senate would feel more logic to me.

It's not an PM. It's a caretaker PM to lead the rest of the rabble.

Just another Shin fanboy to remove from office... PTP keep rolling them out, and the courts will keep taking them down.

3 Shin's have been removed in recent history... Another one won't matter

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4

Thaksin

Somchai

Yingluck

Surapong

Prbkk post # 4

...it will finally dawn on the Suthepistas that it is business as usual...

Indeed that is true and when they see the continuation of the covertly led P.T.P. Shinwatra nepotism, political horse trading and corruption campaign is about to be further extended the P.R.D.C. openly led by a figurehead called ''Suthep'' the P.R.D.C.not the Suthepistas will continue their campaign.

The public have had enough of the Shinwatras self serving policies.

Just another Shin fanboy to remove from office... PTP keep rolling them out, and the courts will keep taking them down.

3 Shin's have been removed in recent history... Another one won't matter

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4

Thaksin

Somchai

Yingluck

Surapong

I stand corrected

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Good choice. He did a stellar job with the rice scheme. Let's see if he can bring his special brand of mojo to the prime ministers seat. A true poster boy for transparency, accountability, and decent moral conduct. Encore PTP!

Its a good choice in the respect, there is still billions of baht laying around to be stolen. What better man for the job?

Either a joke or a big one finger salute from PTP to the CC.

interesting that the cabinet can appoint a PM

yes indeed

i thought that according to the Thai constitution, the Prime minister chose the cabinet and the King appointed them, not the other way around

I Wonder what the constitutional court has to say about that?

on a related question , When the constitutional court announced their decision, was the decision accompanied with comedy sounds such as the ones we hear in Thai comedy shows?

Great choice - i wish him well.

Just another Shin fanboy to remove from office... PTP keep rolling them out, and the courts will keep taking them down.

3 Shin's have been removed in recent history... Another one won't matter

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4

Thaksin

Somchai

Yingluck

Surapong

Samak

Just say thank you that it wasn't Jatuporn.

...it will finally dawn on the Suthepistas that it is business as usual...

The Amnesty Bill was the beginning of the end for YS as PM. Bad move. This gave the necessary ammo to the opposition.

But this is not the end of PTP in Thai politics. There will be an election and the outcome is predictable judging by the result of last election which was nullified.. That was o surprise.

When the PTP candidate is announced and the votes start coming in, the veteran politico, backroom deal maker will rise again. The election will be disrupted once again and probably nullified again and again... until... well.. need I say more? TIT

...it will finally dawn on the Suthepistas that it is business as usual...

Thank you Mr. wind up for this post, no way will this be business as usual, for now every politician will be SH####ing bricks ---look before you tread guys---most who are not convicted will be wearing brown underpants,

For you --you would have been happy for no action ????----sorry your disappointed with democracy.

So it's not Pongthep, but Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan. He was one of the witnesses that Yingluck pushed forward late in the day for the NACC, although his testimony was considered insubstantial. He tends to give press conferences that try to put the best possible light on the rice scheme, and all the " deals " that seem to be just outside of reach stemming from it. He is essentially a PR man.

The former commerce minister ... but isn't he in for the chop as well because of his performance re : the rice pledging scheme!

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He can't win an election...