By Thai Newsroom Reporters
A POTENTIAL Bhumjaithai-led coalition government has been quietly set up by de facto Bhumjaithai boss Newin Chidchob with a combined force of 291 MPs under his command and without the Klatham or the Democrats in the post-election executive branch under re-elected premiership of Anutin Charnvirakul, partisan sources confirmed today (Mar.9).
The Bhumjaithai, the largest elected party with 192 MPs, have become core of the coalition government accompanied by the Pheu Thai, the third largest elected under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra with 74 MPs plus over a dozen splinter parties most of which only have one or a few MPs each, totally making a united army of 291 coalition MPs whilst the opposition bloc will have a combined force of 209 MPs among a total of 500 elected lawmakers.
The Bhumjaithai-led coalition government will likely do without the Klatham under de facto party boss Thammanat Prompao who has gotten 58 MPs under his command or the Democrats headed by former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with 21 MPs or the Thai Ruam Palang led by Wasawat Puangpornsri with six MPs. All the denied parties will automatically become part of the opposition bloc led by the People’s with 120 MPs.
Remarkably in many constituencies nationwide, the Klatham were invariably considered the Bhumjaithai’s archrivals with the de facto party boss having an “unwelcome” image amidst allegations of his being personally associated with transnational scam and money-laundering suspects such as the likes of Benjamin Mauerberger, alias Ben Smith, whilst some of his protege MPs were charged with alleged involvement in “grey” businesses.
The Thai Ruam Palang were also considered the Bhumjaithai’s archrivals in northeastern constituencies of Ubon Ratchathani where the splinter party won four out of a total of 11 MP seats, leaving four to the Bhumjaithai and three to the Pheu Thai.
For fear of the possibility of the re-elected prime minister Anutin being impeached in court if such notorious figures were named members of his post-election cabinet as had been the case during the time of the former Pheu Thai-attached, court-deposed prime minister Srettha Thavisin over the last few years, Newin, the decisive power player behind the scenes, will see to it that the likes of the Klatham will be undoubtedly kept out of the Bhumjaithai-led coalition government whilst the party’s de facto boss will be ultimately denied a ministerial seat.
Meanwhile, the splinter camps attached to the Bhumjaithai bandwagon will likely include the Palang Pracharath led by Trinuch Thienthong with five MPs and the Prachachart led by Thavi Sodsong with five MPs, among others.
Most portfolios under the Anutin II cabinet will certainly be taken by prominent Bhumjaithai figures such as the likes of Newin’s son/Bhumjaithai secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob, Pipat Ratchakitprakarn and Ekanat Prompan, among others whilst several others will be assumed by the Pheu Thai rank and file such as the likes of Thaksin’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat, party leader Julapun Amornvivat and Suriya Juangroongruangkit, who performed as the party’s electoral campaign director, among others.
Remarkably, the de facto Bhumjaithai boss will have a final say over whether the designated prime minister Anutin may take charge of the defence portfolio in concurrent fashion with a retired general to assist him as deputy defence minister.
Nevertheless, Anutin would personally prefer to perform as interior minister, the position which he is currently assuming in caretaker fashion, than to be named defence minister in concurrent manner in addition to his premiership.
Major portfolios steered by Newin’s camp will include the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Health, among others, whilst those run by Thaksin’s camp will include the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research & Innovation, among others. Allegedly instrumental in no small measure albeit in discreet, surreptitious manners to the Bhumjaithai overwhelming victories in last month’s election were local government officials ranging from provincial governors and chief district officials to sub-district and village headmen – all being directly subject to the Ministry of Interior.
In addition to the Bhumjaithai-occupied portfolios, four others will be specifically reserved under the Bhumjaithai quota for “non-politician technocrats” including Bowornsak Uwanno in charge of the government’s legal affairs, Ekniti Nitithanprapat in charge of finance, Sihasak Puangketkaeo in charge of foreign affairs and Supajee Suthumpun in charge of commerce. They are all currently acting as part of the Bhumjaithai-led caretaker government.
According to the partisan sources who only spoke on condition that they not be identified, Anutin will likely be named interior minister in addition to his premiership to act in concurrent fashion, Pipat will likely be named transport minister, Chaichanok as digital economy & society minister, Ekanat as energy minister, Suchart Chomklin as natural resources & environment minister and Warawut Silpa-archa as industry minister, among others in the Bhumjaithai quota. Most have been assuming the same ministerial seats as part of the caretaker government.
In the Pheu Thai quota, Yodchanan is largely speculated to be named higher education, science, research & innovation minister, Suriya as agriculture & cooperatives minister and Julapun as education minister, among others. Trinuch is speculated to represent all the splinter parties who have been brought onto the Bhumjaithai bandwagon of coalition, thus being given a ministerial seat to run a relatively small portfolio.
Being denied a ministerial seat in the Anutin II cabinet are certain Pheu Thai figures such as the likes of Somsak Thepsuthin, co-leader of the Sam Mit faction inside Thaksin’s camp, and party secretary-general Prasert Chanthararuangthong, among others.
CAPTIONS:
Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul talking to the press, above, and showing his parliamentary card, Front Page. Above photo – PPTVHD36, Front Page photo – Naewna
First insert – De facto Klatham boss Thammanat Prompao. Photo – Naewna
Second insert – Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Photo – Naewna
Third insert – Thaksin Shinawatra’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat, centre, flanked by party leader Julapun Amornvivat, right, and Suriya Juangroongruangkit, left. Photo – Pheu Thai handout published by BBC
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