By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin today (Apr. 13) categorically denied a cabinet reshuffle would likely occur as soon as Songkran festival ends next week and said he could not say anything in clear-cut manner about it at the moment.
The Pheu Thai-backed prime minister apparently dampened speculation that the first round of cabinet reshuffle would likely happen after Songkran festival or anytime soon whilst remaining non-committal to such an ultimate power play.
Srettha concluded that it is yet too soon to say anything about a speculated cabinet reshuffle now that all ministers have run the country for seven months. “No movement of that kind at the moment. Nothing can be said with clarity for the time being…But no cabinet reshuffle will certainly take place today or April 17,” the prime minister told reporters in Hua Hin.
That date marks an end to Songkran festival amidst unconfirmed speculation that the first round of cabinet reshuffle would happen as soon as the annual festival ends.
Srettha stepped aside a reporter’s question as to whether he would give up the seat of finance minister which he has been holding in concurrent fashion or whether he himself would take charge of the armed services in place of Defence Minister Suthin Khlangsang.
The prime minister declined to either confirm or deny hearsay that he himself would likely be replaced as finance minister by Stock Exchange of Thailand chair Pichai Chunhavajira, saying he is today in charge of the finance portfolio and being assisted by Deputy Finance Minister Chulapun Amornvivat.
Nevertheless, according to partisan sources, the purely political business of reshuffling the seven-month-old cabinet will decisively depend on de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict on parole Thaksin Shinawatra and definitely not Srettha, who had been quietly promoted to the elected premiership by Thaksin’s sister/deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
If ever cornered over the perennial power play, Srettha would finally prefer to opt out by dissolving the House of Representatives and calling a general election rather than step down under pressure, the partisan sources said.
Whilst the de facto Pheu Thai boss will almost certainly have the final say over the purely political business of reshuffling the Pheu Thai-led cabinet, the real estate tycoon-turned-prime minister’s constitutional power to dissolve the House at any given time would virtually be the only bargaining chip at the latter’s disposal, they said.
Meanwhile, Thaksin declined to comment on the cabinet reshuffle issue when asked by reporters in Chiang Mai where he has arrived from Bangkok today to join in the water-splashing festival until Monday.
More or less anticipated to be reshuffled out of the Pheu Thai-led cabinet are Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, Deputy Agriculture & Cooperatives Minister Chaiya Phromma and Suthin, among others.
Apart from the trio who are currently attached to the ruling Pheu Thai, the anticipated cabinet reshuffle might as well affect some ministers subject to a few coalition partners, namely the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob, the Palang Pracharath led by former deputy prime minister Prawit Wongsuwan and the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/former prime minister/now privy councillor Prayut Chan-o-cha.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Insert: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra arriving in Chiang Mai today, April 13, 2024. All photo: Thai Rath
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