Thai Cabinet divides responsibilities among three remaining deputy prime ministers

[webfact]

Cabinet divides responsibilities among three remaining deputy prime ministers
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan was given the duty of overseeing the Defence and Finance ministries when responsibilities of the PM and the deputies were shared out yesterday.

In a special meeting, the Cabinet handed out duties to the remaining three deputy PMs, now that the Constitutional Court has removed four of them under the abuse-of-power case related to the transfer of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri.

The deputy PMs who lost their jobs were Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Plodprasop Suraswadi and Pracha Promnog, while Niwattumrong, Phongthep Thepkanjana and Yukol Limlamthong, have been left behind holding the reins.

Phongthep said the Cabinet had assigned Niwattumrong to take over Kittiratt's responsibilities as finance minister as well as overseeing the Defence Ministry. Niwattumrong is also commerce minister.

Phongthep also explained that the acting prime minister had been asked to function as deputy defence minister, in place of General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, who was also removed.

He said the Office of the Council of State was studying the Constitutional Court's ruling to determine whether former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra could remain as defence minister. The court's ruling on Wednesday said she had to step down as PM, but it did not mention her Defence portfolio.

Meanwhile, Yukol, who is also agriculture minister, was asked to take over the responsibilities of Plodprasop. Phongthep has been given the duties of Pracha and Surapong.

Phongthep said he was also in charge of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) in place of former labour minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who also oversaw the centre.


-- The Nation 2014-05-09

[Piichai]

It looks like the surviving cabinet members don't agree that Surapong is part of the gang.

[smedly]

I thought Charlerm was also removed

[NongKhaiKid]

" OK folks the following are the fiddles, I mean responsibilities, we have to oversee and thsi time for Buddha's sake don't get caught ".

[Mentors]

Is Chalerm working for an ear medicine pharma company in future?

[Scamper]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

[smedly]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

That is exactly how I understand it, is there a media blackout going on, I don't get it why the opposition are not pointing this out in the media

Also the EC by all accounts has nobody to meet and discuss an election with until the Senate installs someone - are PTP throwing around confusing false press releases and lies trying to confuse people

Has the EC actually made the statement claimed in another thread today about the election

Something very weird is going on

[tezzainoz]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

as usual Scamper you hit the nail right on the head

[SheungWan]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

There will no doubt be provision under the constitution for an acting PM to be replaced if the existing one either falls under or is thrown under a baht bus. Parliamentary convention would indicate that a new acting PM come from the outgoing party.

[Thait Spot]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

I'm not convinced that there is a word in the extensive vocabulary of the English language, or indeed any language (I may stand corrected) that can describe the political dog's breakfast that now governs this great nation.

I am sure that political inteligentsia on the oppostion side will be contemplating what the dog's breakfast is legally entitled to do and will leap upon any perceived misdemeanour in a heartbeat - possibly bringing this canine soup kitchen to a finally euthanised state.

It certainly seems to me that Suthep should call it quits and threaten to return if any of the Shinawatra clan is named as a potential candidate for MP - and the other side of that coin is that he should recuse himself and his clan from the same. To continue to attack the throats of a zombie administration serves little to no gallant purpose.

Abhisit, too, must make his position as well as that of the Democrat party clear. Elections or no elections - that is the question. Get off the fence, declare your reforms and participate to bring an end to this unseemly mess.

[noitom]

Who will be the last Thai standing?

[trogers]

This is bizarre beyond words. Pheu Thai can't select a prime minister through a cabinet - fully filled or half filled - caretaker or not. There are only two paths to prime minister. One - through a quorum-filled parliament. Two - through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. And no matter how many portfolios everyone now has to take on because the cabinet has become so unpopulated - it makes no difference. They can pose for the cameras. They can't govern. They have no legislative mandate. They have no parliament. They have no public mandate. They have no path to an election. And because they don't have a constitutionally recognized prime minister, they can't issue an election.

What Constitution? They are governing 'RedShirt Land' style...like in their proposed separatist RedShirt Land...

[ratcatcher]

I thought Charlerm was also removed

Phongthep said he was also in charge of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) in place of former labour minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who also oversaw the centre.

He was.

[ginjag]

Who will be the last Thai standing?

Not Thai---G. Custer

[ginjag]

I thought Charlerm was also removed

Phongthep said he was also in charge of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) in place of former labour minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who also oversaw the centre.

He was.

I think we need an up to date list of who is and who Isn't. But some are not-but are, some are- but are not. Unbelievable situ.

[gabruce]

I thought Charlerm was also removed

He was.

It's mildly funny that the Cabinet is saying that Surapong and Chalerm were removed and have assigned new people to take over their old positions. At the same time Chalerm and Surapong are insisting that they are still in their old positions. CAPO headquarters should be interesting now with 4 different people saying they are in charge. Where are Laurel and Hardy when they are really needed!

[FangFerang]

It's like watching a train wreck.

[smedly]

I thought Charlerm was also removed

He was.

It's mildly funny that the Cabinet is saying that Surapong and Chalerm were removed and have assigned new people to take over their old positions. At the same time Chalerm and Surapong are insisting that they are still in their old positions. CAPO headquarters should be interesting now with 4 different people saying they are in charge. Where are Laurel and Hardy when they are really needed!

I laughed my ass off at that one LMAO

Edited May 9, 2014 by smedly

[Prbkk]

Simply common sense. The business of the elected government continues regardless of the Yingluck matter. That appears to have dawned on Suthep, finally but not yet on the TV diehards

[ginjag]

Simply common sense. The business of the elected government continues regardless of the Yingluck matter. That appears to have dawned on Suthep, finally but not yet on the TV diehards

Which way do you wish to post?? previous post contradicts this one, ridicule the government one minute then --attack Suthep. Do 2 persons use your one TVF name ???--we never know what you will post as your favour shifts to suit the flavor of the day-either side.

Edited May 9, 2014 by ginjag

[Sattahip2014]

Yes.... another PTP mess.

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic is becoming more difficult with every new court ruling.

[Baerboxer]

Simply common sense. The business of the elected government continues regardless of the Yingluck matter. That appears to have dawned on Suthep, finally but not yet on the TV diehards

You missed the fact Yingluck dissolved parliament before she was removed for breaking the law along with members of her gang?

The Thaksin supporting diehards just love to ignore reality and cling on - just like the great thinker himself.