Thai gov. - five seats likely to go in reshuffle

Thai gov. - five seats likely to go in reshuffle

PHEU THAI HONCHOS MEET THAKSIN FOR TALKS

A major cabinet shakeup involving at least five ministerial posts is expected to come out of a meeting this weekend between leading Pheu Thai figures and ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Singapore.

Some will survive, some will not, as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Big Brother Thaksin mull who should go, who should stay in a cabinet reshuffle early next year.

The changes, likely to come into effect in the New Year, will result in seat-swapping and in the dropping of ministers deemed to have underperformed, a Pheu Thai Party source said. The reshuffle is aimed at bolstering the Yingluck Shinawatra cabinet in the face of heavy criticism, especially pertaining to its handling of the flood crisis.

Speculation about the reshuffle was sparked yesterday as former Thai Rak Thai executives and Pheu Thai MPs flew to Singapore to meet Thaksin.

Thaksin's sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat, and former Thai Rak Thai executive Warathep Ratanakorn arrived in Singapore a day earlier, the source said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has confirmed a reshuffle is due after the New Year.

Mr Chalerm was among the first to meet Thaksin. They also met last month in China.

The source said Thaksin has given the green light to the shake-up, which is aimed at shoring up the government's image and credibility.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, who was grilled in a censure debate last month over his handling of the flood crisis as director of the Flood Relief Operations Command, is said to be among those at risk of losing his position. This list reportedly also includes Social Development and Human Security Minister Santi Prompat, Education Minister Woravat Au-apinyakul, PM's Office Minister Krissana Seehalak and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut.

Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, who is also the interior minister, may lose that portfolio, said the source.

Prime Minister Yingluck yesterday denied any knowledge of a possible ouster of Mr Theera, a Chartthaipattana minister, saying the government is busy with post-flood rehabilitation efforts.

"We are working together to tackle the persistent floods and to prepare rehabilitation [for flooded areas]. This is the government's priority," she said.

Mr Theera declined to comment, saying the authority to order a reshuffle rests with the prime minister.

He has been accused of poor water management by protecting Suphan Buri from the flood at the expense of other central provinces and parts of Bangkok.

Chartthaipattana spokesman Watchara Kannikar said there is no indication of a reshuffle from the core coalition party.

His party is confident its ministers are up to the task and should not be dropped from the line-up.

Pongthep Thepkanchana, one of the 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives suspended for five years and due to return to politics next year, said the Yingluck government needs to make changes if certain cabinet ministers are not up to the job.

Otherwise, the government's popularity will be diminished and it will be vulnerable to attempts to overthrow it, he said.

Mr Pongthep noted that the government will have more "players" to choose from when the 111 suspended politicians complete their political ban in May.

He also urged the government to proceed with care when dealing with any issues that might be linked to Thaksin or the monarchy, as some groups politicise them.

Some say Thaksin has approached the Bhumjaithai party to join the cabinet and replace Chartthaipattana.

However, the overture did not seem to interest Bhumjaithai de-facto leader Newin Chidchob.

Meanwhile, there has also been a reported attempt to lure seven MPs under Somsak Thepsuthin's Wang Nam Yom faction away from Bhumjaithai.

Three MPs in the faction abstained from voting in the no-confidence censure against Mr Pracha.

However, the group is thought to be unlikely to defect.

Thai gov. - five seats likely to go in reshuffle