Economic ministries likely to be swapped
A cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place before July, with democratic spectators saying there are likely to be adjustments to the line-up of officials in charge of financial matters.
Despite the shake-up, they expected the Bhumjaithai Party to be part of the ruling coalition until the close of the government’s word, as the help from the second-largest gathering in the coalition is considered essential to the stability of the administration.
Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political science professor at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, told the Bangkok Post that a government rejig is likely to take place some period between May and July, no long after the Paetongtarn Shinawatra management marks its sixth month in office.
At that point, he said, the government has alter its approach, coverage and employees to improve its performance and maintain public assistance.
The state is focusing on fixing the government’s economic issues, so the change is expected to bring about a new line-up of officials in charge of financial matters, Mr Yutthaporn said, noting the ministers overseeing financial affairs are controlled by Pheu Thai.
While the reshuffle won’t see a lot of changes to the portfolios held by other parties in the coalition, Mr Yutthaporn noted cabinet seats can be swapped between parties.
” Changes will take place mostly at ministries controlled by Pheu Thai.
” Bhumjaithai won’t give up the Interior Ministry that easily, because it has already established a network of officials affiliated with the party to prepare for the next general election,” he said.
” It is unlikely Pheu Thai will boot Bhumjaithai out of the coalition government. Without Bhumjaithai [the second largest in the government], the Pheu Thai-led government will struggle in parliament,” Mr Yutthaporn said, noting the majority of senators are also affiliated with Bhumjaithai.
” It will be too risky to exclude Bhumjaithai from the coalition government. Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai will have to stay together until the end of the government’s term,” he said.
Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the People’s Unity Group, told the Bangkok Post that it would be normal for Pheu Thai to reshuffle the cabinet after six months in office.
” Ms Paetongtarn has served as prime minister for six months, so she can reshuffle the cabinet any time now,” he said.
He also ruled out the possibility of Bhumjaithai being forced out of the coalition in the reshuffle, saying Bhumjaithai’s support is still crucial for the coalition government’s stability.
A survey by the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ) found an increasing support for an imminent cabinet reshuffle.
The survey, which was held between April 5 and 9, gathered responses from 1,310 people aged 18 and above across all regions, with the aim of gauging the public’s sentiment regarding potential changes to the cabinet.
According to the survey, 48. 24 % of respondents believe the cabinet should be reshuffled immediately, while 16. 18 % feel there is no need for any changes.
Another 15. 5 % said the reshuffle should occur in three months, 10. 07 % prefer a six-month wait, and 6. 95 % think it should be postponed for a year. Only 1. 53 % suggested waiting nine months, while the rest either had no opinion or chose not to answer.
When asked which ministries should undergo changes, 57. 02 % of respondents said the Ministry of Commerce followed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives ( 48. 55 % ) and the Ministry of Finance ( 46. 49 % ).