By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A CABINET RESHUFFLE would be very unlikely during the time of caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, commented Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin yesterday (Sept 6).
Despite his performing as caretaker premier for the time being, Prawit would not opt for the otherwise speculated reshuffling of the cabinet though several ministerial seats may be left vacant for the time being, said Somsak who heads a faction inside the ruling Palang Pracharath Party of which the caretaker premier concurrently acts as top leader.
Somsak said conflict of interest would almost certainly arise among factions of a coalition partner if a cabinet reshuffle took place in near future whilst the four-year term of the current coalition government is scheduled to end next March.
Prawit is currently running the country as caretaker premier after the Constitutional Court has ordered Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stop performing as head of government pending a court ruling on his eight-year tenure maximumly provided by law.
Somsak’s comments apparently dampened speculation that Prawit would sooner or later reshuffle the cabinet now that a Bhumjaithai member of cabinet, namely Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Wilawan, has been ordered by court to stop doing her ministerial tasks and a Democrat member of cabinet, namely Nipon Bunyamanee, has resigned as deputy interior minister.
In addition, two ministerial seats for Prawit’s party have been left unoccupied since last year following the ouster of Thammanat Prompao and Naruemon Pinyosinwat as Palang Pracharath members of cabinet by the now-suspended premier.
Nevertheless, Prawit might probably reshuffle the cabinet if he finally becomes prime minister with supportive votes from among MPs and senators, partisan sources said.
Prawit could possibly win the premiership if none of the candidates for head of government earlier named by the parties contesting the 2019 election secured enough yea votes from the legislators.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Photo: INN News
Front Page: Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. Photo: Matichon
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