Pheu Thai’has gaze on Finance Ministry ‘
Even though the changes, mainly affecting the judgement Pheu Thai Party, are far from settled in some important positions, a supply claims, a pending cabinet reshuffle is likely to be finalized next week.
The formation of the so-called” Srettha II” cabinet, which makes reference to newly appointed prime minister Srettha Thavisin, is expected to include posts held by Pheu Thai, the Palang Pracharath Party ( PPRP ), and the United Thai Nation ( UTN) Party.
If Pheu Thai wins the horses trading, it will have complete control over the finance department as the group is gearing up to get its party’s most popular online budget handout plan off the drawing board and put into action before the year is out. According to the source, Mr. Srettha is expected to finish his list for the new cabinet by the following week.
Reports say Mr Srettha will let go of the finance minister’s post, which he concurrently fills, and let Pichai Chunhavajira, his adviser, take over. The prime minister, meanwhile, has set his sights on a new dual role: he is reported to be replacing Sutin Klungsang as defence minister.
Back at the Finance Ministry, Pheu Thai is negotiating with the UTN to have Krisada Chinavicharana, a deputy finance minister under the latter’s quota, succeeded by Paopoom Rojanasakul, secretary to the finance minister from Pheu Thai. In returning the favour, Pheu Thai has considered making Gen Natthapol Nakpanich, a former secretary-general of the National Security Council, a deputy defence minister under the UTN’s quota.
Other significant changes include the appointment of Pheu Thai deputy leader Chusak Sirinil as the country’s office minister, a position that was reportedly originally reserved for Phichit Chuenban, who had previously failed to win the cabinet seat due to allegedly douteful qualifications.
Mr. Phichit is a respected member of the former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and a trusted advisor to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Visuth Chainaroon, a Pheu Thai list-MP and government chief whip, is poised to replace Chaiya Promma, a fellow Pheu Thai member, as deputy agriculture minister.
However, the PPRP may be bargaining with Pheu Thai so that one of its constituency MPs, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, can occupy the deputy agriculture minister post in exchange for handing over a deputy commerce minister seat, which is under the PPRP’s control, to Pheu Thai.
Additionally, Sermsak Pongpanit and Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol are negotiating seats. Both are Pheu Thai stalwarts.
Other than Mr. Sutin, who runs the risk of losing his position in the cabinet and abruptly leaving, Mr. Chaiya and Deputy Interior Minister Kriang Kantinan could face a similar “double whammy.”
In the reshuffle, Cholnan Srikaew, the former leader of Pheu Thai, was ordered to remove from the cabinet and appoint deputy prime minister Somsak Thepsutin, according to earlier reports. However, that reported shift was halted because of Pheu Thai’s growing opposition.
Some party insiders feared that Mr. Somsak’s and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrangreangkit’s faction might become too dominant in the ruling party if it was given the job of overseeing the budget-intensive, A-list ministry’s Public Health Ministry. The UTN and the PPRP also had disagreements over the cabinet posts. Anucha Nakasai, the deputy agriculture minister position, is in danger of losing.
Capt Thammanat Prompow, the agriculture minister, has been pushing for Mr. Atthakorn to become a new deputy agriculture minister, but he and party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon are at odds with him. Gen Prawit has backed Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, the former digital economy and society minister, for the deputy agriculture portfolio.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also leader of the coalition Bhumjaithai Party, said he has not been informed of the cabinet shake-up by the prime minister.