Thailand cabinet shuffle in limbo

Thailand cabinet shuffle in limbo

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand spent another day in political limbo yesterday, with party leaders still locked in discussion over who should be in the country's next cabinet.

All 48 cabinet ministers in the government of embattled Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh tendered their resignation earlier this week and Chavalit is seeking to put together a new cabinet to tackle Thailand's worst economic crisis in decades.

Little news emerged on the likely shape of the new cabinet. But the powerful Chart Pattana Party (CPP), the second biggest party in the six-member coalition, denied rumors it planned to quit the government.

"Chart Pattana will not withdraw because we are concerned about the economy," said Korn Dabbaransi, deputy prime minister and deputy CPP leader, after arriving at the house of CPP party leader and former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan.

He made the statement amid rumors the CPP would pull out due to major differences with Chavalit's New Aspiration Party over the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.

Chatichai's house was abuzz with activity yesterday as politicians arrived for meetings with the former premier. Korn said the CPP would bring its list of proposed economic ministers to Chavalit later in the day.

A meeting of Chavalit's coalition partners last Sunday agreed that the prime minister would consult with Chatichai in filling economic portfolios in the upcoming cabinet shuffle.

Some party and government sources had said there was growing tension between CPP and Chavalit's party over the changes. Some said the CPP might pull out if they failed to reach agreement.

Korn, the industry minister who was recently put in charge of economic affairs, said CPP nominees were non-elected experts. "We nominate the finance and commerce ministerial candidates who are among a long list of outside experts compiled earlier by the prime minister," he said. "I stress that our nominees are not CPP members, they are outsiders."

Korn said Chavalit would have the final say in the cabinet reshuffle.

"If the new cabinet after the reshuffle still could not satisfy the public, the prime minister ... would have to take responsibility," he said. "We don't make conditions or put pressure on the prime minister."

The government has had a hard time finding qualified people to fill cabinet posts, especially in key economic portfolios, as many technocrats have refused to join the government.

Chavalit was not included in the meetings at Chatichai's house. He held separate talks in the morning and spent the rest of the day -- a public holiday -- playing golf.

As Chavalit relaxed, about 400 demonstrators blocked the street outside Government House for the fourth day with speakers calling for Chavalit's resignation, police said.

Earlier in the week the number of anti-government protesters in the streets had run into thousands.

Four labor leaders staged a hunger strike outside Chatichai's house, saying they would refuse food until the CPP pulled out of the coalition.