Former Thai premier wants quick cabinet reshuffle

Former Thai premier wants quick cabinet reshuffle

BANGKOK (AFP): Former Thai premier Chatichai Choonhavan, a key leader of the six-party governing coalition, wants a swift cabinet reshuffle to boost the country's struggling economy, reports said yesterday.

Chatichai, who leads the second largest coalition party, the Chart Pattana, was joined by Thailand's army chief in calling for a reallocation of ministerial positions in the wake of a tough no-confidence debate.

"I think there should be a reshuffle as soon as possible which could have a (good) effect on the economy," Chatichai was quoted as saying by the Thai language daily Matichon.

"Whether it is this week or not I don't know... but if it's late it will damage the economy," he added.

Premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who at the weekend survived an opposition censure motion, is under pressure to bring technocrats into his government, which is grappling with the country's worst economic crisis in decades.

Gen. Chettha Thanajaro, Thailand's nonpartisan army commander- in-chief, on Wednesday also supported a quick change to the cabinet, appointing "knowledgeable and able" ministers to help the economy, Matichon reported.

Thailand has to meet tough requirements in an austerity program approved by the International Monetary Fund, as part of a US$17.2 billion rescue package to shore up dwindling foreign reserves.

However, the premier faces opposition within his own party to any reshuffle and a reported difficulty to find experts willing to join his government, which has become unpopular with urban Thais and many in the business community.

Chavalit, who has decided to maintain media silence for one week amid unrelenting speculation on which of his ministers will be asked to stand down, has reportedly already approached outsiders about entering the cabinet.

The Nation daily quoted a democratic activist who met with the premier Wednesday as saying Chavalit was having problems persuading technocrats, because they were wary that he would only be in power until early next year.

"The prime minister said he had approached professionals and academics about joining the cabinet, but they feel uneasy about coming aboard because the government's term is running out," said Sant Hathirat of the Confederation of Democracy after meeting Chavalit.

Chavalit has said he will dissolve parliament in March or April after lawmakers approve new enabling laws for a radical antigraft constitution, which was adopted by parliament Saturday.

The first general election under the charter -- which includes measures to cut down on the vote buying and patronage system rife in Thai politics -- would be likely to follow in May or June.

The 10-month old Chaowalit administration, was accused by the opposition in last week's no-confidence debate of presiding over unprecedented corruption in government and economic mismanagement, but the premier survived unscathed.

Speculation about who would take a fall from the cabinet has been rife, with attention focused on a deputy premier from Chavalit's New Aspiration Party, Sukhavich Rangsitpol, who was formerly education minister.

He was accused by the opposition of malpractice in allocation of a government contract to supply computers to the nation's schools.

However, interior minister Sanoh Thienthong, who is the secretary-general of the New Aspiration, dampened talk of a quick reshuffle.

Sanoh said that talk about a change should only take place after the premier returns from a trip to Japan next week.