Thai PM wins support, plan cabinet reshuffle

Thai PM wins support, plan cabinet reshuffle

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand's embattled premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh won a crucial vote of confidence Saturday from parliament, which also overwhelmingly approved a new reformist constitution.

After the vote, Chavalit held an urgent meeting with senior coalition partners and a coalition spokesman said the premier would reshuffle his cabinet soon with the aim of salvaging Thailand from its worst economic crisis in decades.

"Coalition partners agreed with the prime minister that the cabinet be reshuffled and major changes will be made soon," Premsak Piyayura, spokesman for the premier's New Aspiration Party, told said.

Chavalit had hinted immediately after winning the censure vote that he would consider opposition views made during debate on the motion, and would "correct flaws in the coalition".

Suwat Liptapallop, secretary-general of the Chart Pattana, the second largest party in the six-party ruling coalition, said: "We support the prime minister's initiation of a cabinet reshuffle, but will discuss details later."

Local media speculated that at least 15 ministers and deputy ministers might be replaced, and more technocrats would be enlisted to boost the government's image and the economy.

The premier survived the opposition censure motion in the elected lower house as expected, while the draft constitution, which enjoys broad public support, sailed through a joint session of the upper and lower houses.

Chavalit's nine-month-old, six-party coalition defeated the censure motion by 212 votes to 170 in the 393-seat lower house. Eleven members did not vote.

The opposition had accused the premier of incompetence and economic mismanagement, and some ministers were portrayed as corrupt.

The new charter, aimed at ending decades of rampant money politics and political patronage, won the backing of 578 votes, with 16 against and 17 abstentions.

Thousands of pro-constitution supporters gathered at a public square at Sanam Luang in Bangkok and other parts of the country shouted with delight, set off fireworks and waved flags on hearing of the charter's approval.

"This is a historic day for the nation when the people finally have their own constitution," said Pipop Thongchai, organizer of a pro-charter rally at Sana Luang.

"We praise the members of parliament for their sincere contribution to political reform," said the Democracy Movement in a statement.

The new charter, requiring the assent of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, calls for a revamp of the electoral system and would require cabinet ministers to resign their seats if they were elected as members of parliament.

The reforms aim to reduce the role of vested interests and money in the political decision-making process.

Chavalit was reluctant initially to accept the new charter, but bowed to pressure from the military and his coalition government partners.

Analysts expect Chavalit to follow the confidence vote with decisive action to tackle the economic turmoil which triggered a $17.2 billion rescue package put together by the International Monetary Fund.

The coalition announcement that a major cabinet reshuffle was imminent came close on the heels of comments by political analysts and coalition members who said Chavalit would need to act to appease his critics in parliament.

Among other things, Chavalit was blamed for the suspension of 58 ailing finance firms which resulted in the freezing of billions of baht in public deposits.

The premier argued the upheaval was the product of policies followed by the main opposition Democrat Party, which ruled the country from 1992-1995.