Yingluck's Cabinet Is Just Days Away

[Flashermac]

Pokemon in the thick of fight for share of spoils

 

 

Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is pushing for a quick formation of the cabinet, says a Pheu Thai party source.

 

Thaksin has set a time frame for the cabinet to be formed by the middle of next week, the source said.

 

Pheu Thai list-MP Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to be nominated today as prime minister. Upon receiving royal endorsement she would be authorised to forward a cabinet line up for royal approval.

 

The soonest she can receive royal endorsement is today or tomorrow, so the final cabinet line-up could be ready as early as tomorrow or Sunday. The list is likely to be submitted for royal approval by Monday or Tuesday, the source said.

 

Mrs Yingluck has urged candidates for cabinet posts to fill in forms and submit necessary documents to be processed, the source said. It was reported that about 20 people have applied, including Bangkok MP Anudit Nakhontap and Ayutthaya MP Witthaya Buranasiri. However, no cabinet positions have been specified.

 

Thaksin's ex-wife Khunying Pokemon na Pombejra has reportedly been pushing hard for party financiers to be given cabinet positions.

 

Her efforts have likely thwarted the chances of Siam Commercial Bank executive chairman Vichit Suraphongchai securing a post in the administration.

 

Meanwhile, jockeying and lobbying for cabinet posts among the Pheu Thai establishment continues.

 

The post of foreign minister is reportedly being chased by former Thai ambassador to London Vikrom Khumpairote and the ambassador to Oslo, Julapong Nonsichai.

 

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders are lobbying for the appointment of Natthawut Saikua as a PM's Office minister, much to the chagrin of some party members.

 

Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa has yet to win approval from friends of Thaksin from the armed forces' preparatory school's Class 10 to make a play for the post of defence minister. Kowit Wattana, who has reportedly resigned as a board member of CP All, is being blocked for consideration for a deputy prime minister's post because of his close ties to Bhumjaithai de facto leader Newin Chidchob, sources say.

 

Some posts seem to be settled. Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal is tipped to be the prime minister's secretary-general.

 

Red shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana yesterday asked his movement to be patient and not to pressure party leaders.

 

"If it looks ugly, I'll take care of it," he said.

 

Mr Kwanchai insisted yesterday that party MPs who are also core leaders of the red shirt movement have not negotiated for any ministerial positions.

 

He noted that if these MPs were not appointed, it did not mean that they had been left out because they were red shirts.

 

"I have made it clear that the cabinet minister selection process is a matter for the Pheu Thai Party. Whether or not UDD co-leaders will be made cabinet members is not a big issue," he said.

 

Mrs Yingluck insisted yesterday that the cabinet lineup was being decided in Thailand without any involvement from Thaksin.

 

Mrs Yingluck said it was too soon to say whether members of the red shirts would serve on the cabinet.

 

She said that she already had in mind the people she wanted as economic and national security ministers, but would disclose details only when the cabinet line-up was finalised.

 

Mrs Yingluck said the cabinet formation process faced no hurdles, but the decisions would not be made hastily because it was necessary to wait until she was officially appointed prime minister.

 

According to Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit, Sanoh Thienthong will nominate Ms Yingluck for prime minister at today's House meeting. The party yesterday resolved to back Mrs Yingluck as prime minister.

 

The nomination requires support from at least 100, or one-fifth, of the MPs and the nominee needs 251 votes to win.

 

Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha denied yesterday he was contacted by Thaksin to discuss defence minister candidates.

 

Meanwhile, there have been talks about changes at the Department of Special Investigation.

 

It is rumoured that DSI chief Tharit Pengdit will be replaced by Pol Col Suchart Wonganantachai, an inspector general at the ICT ministry.

 

It is also reported that deputy permanent secretary general Thawee Sodsong will be appointed as the director of the National Intelligence Agency.

 

 

BP

[cavanami]

no surprise there!