By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE SECRETARIES-GENERAL of two coalition partners will likely be concurrently given ministerial seats in a new cabinet lineup under Prime Minister-designate Paetongtarn Shinawatra, partisan sources said today (Aug. 17).
That refers to Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thianthong and Ruam Thai Sang Chart Secretary-General Ekkanat Prompan, both of whom are largely speculated to be concurrently named ministers alongside others in the imminent cabinet lineup under Paetongtarn, daughter of de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra and leader of the core coalition partner.
The prime minister-designate is scheduled for tomorrow to be given formal endorsement by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Thailand’s second woman prime minister after her fugitive aunt/former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra will almost certainly be influenced in no small measure by her father allegedly known as “Mr Fix-It” since he returned home from self-exile abroad last year.
Now that his daughter has risen to power, the billionaire, de facto Pheu Thai boss’s behind-the-scenes power plays will likely be more pivotal and decisive than ever, the partisan sources said.
Most cabinet members are more or less expected to remain unchanged under the current coalition government consisting of the Pheu Thai given the top seat of the executive branch plus 16 cabinet seats, the Bhumjaithai under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob with eight cabinet seats, the Palang Pracharath and Ruam Thai Sang Chart under de facto party boss/former coup leader-turned-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with four cabinet seats each, the Chart Thai Pattana and Prachachart with one cabinet seat each.
Apart from the prime minister’s seat, a maximum of 35 cabinet seats are legally provided.
Nevertheless, several figures in the last cabinet lineup are expected to be dismissed in the new one, including Pheu Thai-attached acting Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, acting Defence Minister Sutin Khlungsang, Palang Pracharath-attached acting Deputy Prime Minister-cum-acting Natural Resources & Environment Minister Patcharawat Wongsuwan and Pheu Thai-attached acting Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jakkapong Saengmanee, the partisan sources said.
Patcharawat is brother of Palang Pracharath leader Prawit Wongsuwan who will very likely continue to head the only coalition party without assuming a cabinet seat in concurrent fashion.
Prawit did not attend yesterday’s special House session in which Thaksin’s daughter was voted the 31st prime minister.
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Top and Front Page: Prime Minister-designate Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Both photos: Thai Rath
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