SOMSAK THEPSUTHIN, co-leader of the Sam Mit faction inside the Pheu Thai, the second largest coalition partner of a potential Bhumjaithai-led government, has been quietly awaiting a last-minute change in the list of Pheu Thai ministers-designate which might probably see himself included, a partisan source said today (March 25).
Though the list of eight Pheu Thai ministers-designate, five at a minister’s status and three at a deputy minister’s status, has already been handed to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, given hope that the whole Bhumjaithai-led cabinet of ministers will be forwarded sooner than later to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn for formal endorsement, the last-minute change on the part of the re-elected prime minister might probably occur to the extent that Somsak be finally included on the list.
More or less speculated to be eventually denied a ministerial seat under the Pheu Thai quota is MP Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol who might probably otherwise assume the seat of social development & human security minister in the Anutin II cabinet on grounds of being earlier involved in alleged encroachment of a public plot of land in Nam Yuen district of Ubon Ratchathani by her family’s agri-business firm, thus breaching the politician’s code of ethics.
Anutin who will likely take charge of the interior portfolio in concurrent fashion has earlier expressed concerns over possibilities of any minister-designates being charged with legal or ethical wrongdoings and set some sort of criteria under which all disreputable persons, regardless of currently pending a court ruling or not, will be terminally kept out of his cabinet.
The prime minister said he has had the personal histories and qualifications of all ministers-designate thoroughly examined by government officials in charge of legal affairs before they are officially named on a full list of cabinet members to be submitted to the monarch for formal endorsement.
Nevertheless, if Somsak failed to grab a ministerial seat whilst Suriya Juangroongruangkit, the other co-leader of the Sam Mit faction of Pheu Thai MPs mostly representing upper-central and northeastern constituencies, was largely expected to be named agriculture & cooperatives minister, he would rather look to switch parties for the next general election, the partisan source said.
Given the circumstances under which both Sam Mit faction leaders are invariably seen as a couple of permanent associates relying on each other’s power play, Suriya might as well accompany Somsak to another party unless the latter is finally given a ministerial seat in a future Bhumjaithai-led cabinet.
The faction leaders had been party-hopping over the last couple of decades since they had been originally attached to the Pheu Thai under de facto party boss/inmate Thaksin Shinawatra, then led en masse defection of their protege politicians to the Palang Pracharath, previously headed by Prawit Wongsuwan, and finally returned to Thaksin’s camp.
Somsak had assumed varied portfolios in previous governments over the last couple of decades such as the agriculture & cooperatives, industry, justice and public health portfolios in addition to the seat of a deputy prime minister.
CAPTIONS:
Sam Mit faction co-leaders Somsak Thepsuthin, right in above photo and second left Front Page photo, and Suriya Juangroongruangkit, left above photo and third left Front Page photo. Above image – Naewna, Front Page image – PPTVHD36
Insert – Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Photo – PPTVHD36
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