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.