By Thai Newsroom Reporters
IN WHAT WAS SEEN as a last-minute twist in complicated, unpredictable political affairs, a Bhumjaithai-led coalition government will finally do without the Klatham or the Democrats but secure a majority of 300 designate-MPs primarily obliged to vote Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for head of the executive branch again, partisan sources confirmed today (Feb.21).
De facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob had finally decided to keep out the ultra-conservative Klatham under de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao and the Old School conservative Democrats headed by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva from the potential bandwagon of government led by the ultra-conservative Bhumjaithai in which the neo-conservative Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra has already joined as the second largest coalition partner, plus a dozen splinter parties most of which have only one MP each.
Newin had pondered the proportionate allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners to be more decisive than whether the Bhumjaithai-led government might be very stable in regard to an overwhelming majority of supportive lawmakers which may have otherwise accounted for as many as 340-plus if the Bhumjaithai, the largest elected party in the recent general election, aligned either with the Klatham or Democrats.
That a few major portfolios would have been given to the Klatham or Democrats if they were eventually brought in the Bhumjaithai-led bandwagon prompted the de facto Bhumjaithai boss to think twice and finally chose to keep out those strange bedfellows, according to the partisan sources.
Newin’s and Thammanat’s camps had relentlessly contested against each other over many constituencies in every region of the country whilst Newin’s camp had been defeated by Abhisit’s camp in some southern constituencies during the nationwide race to parliament.
Given the Bhumjaithai-led coalition government with an army of 300-strong lawmakers including 193 Bhumjaithai MPs and 74 Pheu Thai MPs on their side, the other 200 legislators including 58 Klatham MPs and 22 Democrat MPs will certainly be attached to the opposition bloc led by the reformist People’s with 118 MPs.
The Bhumjaithai will likely handle major portfolios in charge of national security and economy such as the likes of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy, among others, whilst leaving social and other economic portfolios to Thaksin’s camp including the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development & Human Security, among others.
However, four “non-political technocrats” most of whom are currently acting as members of the caretaker cabinet will likely stay put under quota of Newin’s camp including Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapat, Commerce Minister Supajee Suthumpun who may concurrently act as deputy prime minister supervising the agriculture portfolio, Foreign Minister Sihasak Puangketkaew and former finance minister Pridi Daochai who is speculated to be named energy minister.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Above photo – Amarin TV, Front Page photo – PPTVHD36
First insert – Former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Photo – Naewna
Second insert – De facto Klatham boss Thammanat Prompao. Photo – Amarin TV
Also read:
Bhumjaithai-led govt backed by 340-plus coalition MPs
Klatham tipped to be brought in Bhumjaithai-led govt without Thammanat in cabinet
Klatham probably kept out of Bhumjaithai-led coalition
Whether Klatham joins coalition bandwagon depends on de facto Bhumjaithai boss
Newin-Thammanat talk over coalition govt setup denied
Central Administrative Court accepts lawsuit over barcoded, QR coded ballots
Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai hold talk on coalition govt setup
Election might be called null and void, given barcodes, QR codes on voting ballots
Election Commission dismisses call for recount of votes in Chonburi
Mysteriously unequal totals of constituency/party ballots reported
Some referees ‘bought’ to rig votes for rogue contestants
Dozen designated People’s MPs retroactively charged with lese majeste lawsuit
