Thai cabinet must make tough decisions

Thai cabinet must make tough decisions

Thailand's new cabinet cobbled together by Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in the hope of staving off public demands for his resignation, held its first working meeting Monday.

The key changes in last week's reshuffle was followed by subsequent public protests as Mr. Chavalit's six-party coalition grappled with the International Monetary Fund's rescue measures.

Mr Chavalit, no doubt urged by respected monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej, infused new blood into the cabinet hoping this would allow time for parliament to pass three laws connected with the new anti-corruption constitution.

This might well buy the cabinet which to us more like an attempt to change the pillow to cure a headache. The problem is the six-party coalition that is at loggerheads over the IMF's solution to the economic crisis.

If the government wants to achieve a budget surplus -- as recommended by the IMF -- as part of the solution to Thailand's economic ills, then price rises are necessary.

Such a move will have a positive impact on public confidence but some of the coalition partners are opposing them.

No cabinet reshuffle is going to cure this ailment, it might stagger along until the next election -- now expected as early as January -- and eventually be thrown out of the decisions for the benefit of the country at the expense of its own immediate popularity.

-- The Hong Kong Standard