Thaksin's Top Aide 'on The Run' From Political 'hot Potato'

[george]

PM's top aide 'on the run' from political 'hot potato'

BANGKOK: -- Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has been a man on the run since Wednesday -- on the run to evade a media spotlight attempting to focus on his political future.

Dr. Somkid, who is also caretaker Commerce Minister, has kept a low public profile since reports emerged that he may quit politics after the general elections in mid-October and that he is now being seen as a threat to caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Until lately seen as the hand-picked successor to Mr. Thaksin in case of political need, Dr. Somkid has done a disappearing act and has not shown up at the Commerce Ministry, Government House, Thai Rak Thai Party headquarters, nor at any public functions since Wednesday when reporters were eagerly on his trail to quiz him on his political future.

His aides said he does not want to be asked about politics just now.

In addition, he plans to leave Sunday to attend the annual ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur and will be out of the country until August 25.

Dr. Somkid will lead the Thai delegation to attend the meeting during which ASEAN economic ministers will also meet with their counterparts from China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

--TNA 2006-08-18

[Charma]

His aides said he does not want to be asked about politics just now.

--TNA 2006-08-18

Where in the world would a senior politician be able to give out that message and get away with it!

edit for quote

Edited August 18, 2006 by Charma

[Lacoste]

PM's top aide 'on the run' from political 'hot potato'

His aides said he does not want to be asked about politics just now.

[Tony Clifton]

Maybe they meant po-tatoes.

[hammered]

Why is nobody in the government willing to outline their future after the next election. Surely the electorate have the right to know if current ministers are willing to do their job again or not? And actually why wont the PM clarify if he will accept the position after the election if his party wins. This behavior is turnibng into a farce. People argue about the growing strength pf Thai democracy and yet th people do not even have the information of who will take the main position if the favorites win. How can any voter make an informed decision when treated like this?

[chownah]

Why is nobody in the government willing to outline their future after the next election. Surely the electorate have the right to know if current ministers are willing to do their job again or not? And actually why wont the PM clarify if he will accept the position after the election if his party wins. This behavior is turnibng into a farce. People argue about the growing strength pf Thai democracy and yet th people do not even have the information of who will take the main position if the favorites win. How can any voter make an informed decision when treated like this?

Don't worry about it. I'm sure that before the election it will all be clear. All the politicians are presently jockeying around for the best ride in the next election.....this always happens before a Thai election but probably there is more of it happening for this election for obvious reasons. Once the election process is officially underway these people will not be allowed to campaign (at least I think that this is not allowed) so they have to capture the public's attention now and they each have a different way to do this...some by talking and some by not talking....whatever....My opinion is that it is premature to expect that all the politicians will declare their intentions....it is doubtful that the date for the actual election is even known yet....it will probably be before christmas, though. I think that one date to watch is 90 days before registration to run for office because after that date you can not switch parties and still run.

And for people who intend to retire after this election....they might not want to announce it now because it might affect their good buddies' election prospects...so they do their friends a favor by not announcing.

Edited August 19, 2006 by chownah

[sriracha john]

The Nation reported yesterday that Somekid had accepted a professorship at Thammasat to begin after the caretaker status of the current government ends.

[Plus]

I think they can't campaign before the election decree comes into effect, 24 August at the moment. After that it's gloves off.

"Electorate deserve to know" - not at all, not at all. Thaksin's electorate can't care less who will be in the cabinet as long as Thaksin is there. And, strangely, those who are not going to vote for Thaksin can't care less who will be in the cabinet as long as Thaksin is there, too.

The country is sharply divided and there aren't many swing votes to fight for.

And of course no one knows if Thaksin will stay as the PM, what to speak of the other ministers, sorry, helpers, they are called helpers now.

[slimdog]

I think they can't campaign before the election decree comes into effect, 24 August at the moment. After that it's gloves off.

There are No rules governing campaigning prior to a Royal Decree coming into effect. However, all laws pertaining to the constitution remain in effect regardless.

Once the Decree is in effect, ALL political parties are banned from any form of campaigning until AFTER the EC has received and endorsed the list for both Party List and Constituency candidates, and that each Political Party has by lot, been given a number under which to campaign.

The previous Election Commission gave the dates of Septemeber 5th -7th for Party List candidates to submit their applications and 8th - 12th for Constituency candidates, however these dates have to be approved by the New Election Commissioner's.

Edited August 20, 2006 by slimdog