Thai PM to make minor cabinet changes
Thai PM to make minor cabinet changes
By Sutin Wannabovorn
BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand's premier will take his time to
make a much-awaited cabinet reshuffle after winning a bruising
no-confidence motion over the weekend, political sources and
analysts said on Monday.
The politically strengthened Banharn Silpa-archa, who leads a
seven-party coalition government, is expected to make only a
minor reshuffle after June 9 celebrations to mark the golden
anniversary of the Thai king's accession, they told Reuters.
"The cabinet reshuffle will take place after the royal ceremony
next month," a close aide of Banharn said.
The 10-month-old government, which controls 232 of 391 seats
in the lower house of parliament, defeated an opposition no-
confidence motion on Saturday.
Banharn's aide said most of the current ministers will remain.
Only a deputy minister, Suchart Tancharoen, who was most attacked
by the opposition for alleged involvement in improper land and
financial deals, could be axed.
Suchart vehemently defended himself against the allegations
and denied any impropriety.
Finance Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, an unelected cabinet
member and Banharn confidant who was severely criticized during
the debate, would remain in cabinet, the aide said.
Surakiart was accused by the opposition of being responsible
for a widening national current account deficit, accelerating
inflation, and of poorly managing the stock market and central
bank. He denied all the allegations.
"Surakiat said he felt relieved and happy after he explained
himself to parliament during the debate. The prime minister
continues to support him, so he will not be removed," the aide
said.
Although the government survived the vote, some cracks
appeared in the coalition when the third-largest party in the
administration, the Palang Dharma (Moral Force) Party, refused to
support Suchart. The PDP abstained, irking its partners.
Jaturon Chaisaeng, a spokesman for the New Aspiration Party,
the second largest in the coalition, said his party had demanded
that Banharn oust Suchart and Surakiat.
"The pressure to oust the PDP from the coalition has eased and
we are only demanding the removal of those trouble-plagued
ministers," Jaturon told reporters after a party meeting.
Other political analysts said Banharn would have to undertake
a cabinet reshuffle soon to drop unpopular ministers or risk
losing public and coalition partner support.
"Banharn must reshuffle and oust the problem-plagued cabinet
members, otherwise his coalition may collapse," said Sukhum
Naulsakul, a political scientist at Ramkhamhaeng University.
But former prime minister and current opposition leader Chuan
Leekpai of the Democrat Party predicted the government coalition
would remain intact for the forseeable future.
"The nature of the coalition will not change. As long as they
can still share the benefits of being in power, they will not
split and the public cannot hope for changes," he said.
A senior military source said the armed forces still backed
Banharn was unhappy with several of his cabinet ministers.
The military, which has launched 17 successful or attempted
coups since the country embraced parliamentary democracy in 1932,
still has a strong influence on Thai politics.
"In our opinion, the prime minister is a capable man who dares
to make decisions and take quick action. Only some of his
ministers are unacceptable," the general, who declined to be
identified, told Reuters.
Military support for Banharn was intact although he recently
shelved the military's request for a $1.04 billion spy and
communications satellite system and two submarines worth $680
million, he added.
"I want to make it clear that those projects were only
delayed, not canceled, by the government," the general said.