Even before it is official, the cabinet is coming under strong criticism, despite a plea from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to judge their performance, not the nominations.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
By Bangkok Post Reporters
Critics ignored a plea from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday to give his cabinet nominees time to prove themselves. Their main targets are Sompong Amornwiwat, who is to become foreign minister, and Suchart Thadathamrongvej, who will be promoted to finance minister.
Controversial former interior minister Chalerm Yubamrung will come back into the administration, this time as public health minister.
Prasong Kosittanond, who has been nominated as a deputy interior minister, could stir up trouble in the Puea Pandin coalition party as he is not an elected MP.
On Tuesday, the cabinet list was forwarded to His Majesty the King for endorsement.
The prime minister boasted that all 36 members of his cabinet were well-qualified for their posts, although others might think differently.
"Let's wait and see their performances," Mr Somchai said, adding he could justify the nomination of all his prospective cabinet members.
A source in the People Power party (PPP) said the list was approved by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who wants to curb the influence of the faction led by Newin Chidchob.
Another party source said Mr Sompong was nominated to become foreign minister because PPP core members wanted him to handle hot issues like the Preah Vihear temple and the revocation of Mr Thaksin's diplomatic passport.
Mr Sompong's preference was either staying on as the justice minister or being moved to the Interior Ministry. However, he had to succumb to pressure from inside the PPP, the source said.
Mr Sompong wasted no time on Tuesday in saying goodbye to officials at the Justice Ministry, telling them he was leaving for the Foreign Ministry.
The decision to put him at the Foreign Ministry surprised and worried officials as he has two key issues waiting for him.
He has to resolve the spat with Cambodia over the border dispute and handle Southeast Asian affairs as Thailand now chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Mr Sompong will not have much time to learn about his new job because his first assignment is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and chair an informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers on Sept 29, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Political analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn of Chulalongkorn University was worried about the appointment of Mr Sompong as the foreign minister, given the difficulties of the Thai-Cambodian dispute.
It required a capable person specialising in foreign affairs, the analyst said. He urged Mr Sompong to show his courage by revoking the diplomatic passport of Mr Thaksin.
Historian M.L. Walwipa Charoonroj of Thammasat University said Mr Sompong was not suited to the foreign affairs portfolio. The post required a person well-versed in international policies, not a protector of politicians' interests, she said.
Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he was concerned about Mr Suchart handling finance policy.
When Mr Suchart was a deputy finance minister in the Samak Sundaravej administration he had once criticised the Bank of Thailand, Mr Banharn said. That could lead to problems in the administration.
Mr Chalerm, who was earlier forced out of the interior post by public pressure, has been given some breathing space by health experts.
Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, head of the Rural Doctors' Society, said he had no expectations from the new public health minister as the government will not last long. But he said the new minister could be given a chance to prove his qualifications.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said the new minister in charge of public health had to improve access to medicine and the universal healthcare scheme.
Puea Pandin also had its own problem after the cabinet line-up was completed as the nomination of Mr Prasong could threaten its unity.
Dissident MPs in Puea Pandin warned of turmoil after party leader Suvit Khunkitti nominated Mr Prasong, a non-MP and reportedly the party's financier, to the post of deputy interior minister again.
Yasothon MP Ronritthichai Khankhet said he and the other seven MPs in the party disagreed with Mr Prasong's nomination as he was not an MP and lacked political experience.
The eight MPs are from the Ban Rim Nam faction and another faction led by party-list MP Sarudej Yasawat.
Mr Ronritthichai said the two factions had eight MPs altogether but none of them were included in the cabinet list.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
By Bangkok Post Reporters
Critics ignored a plea from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Tuesday to give his cabinet nominees time to prove themselves. Their main targets are Sompong Amornwiwat, who is to become foreign minister, and Suchart Thadathamrongvej, who will be promoted to finance minister.
Controversial former interior minister Chalerm Yubamrung will come back into the administration, this time as public health minister.
Prasong Kosittanond, who has been nominated as a deputy interior minister, could stir up trouble in the Puea Pandin coalition party as he is not an elected MP.
On Tuesday, the cabinet list was forwarded to His Majesty the King for endorsement.
The prime minister boasted that all 36 members of his cabinet were well-qualified for their posts, although others might think differently.
"Let's wait and see their performances," Mr Somchai said, adding he could justify the nomination of all his prospective cabinet members.
A source in the People Power party (PPP) said the list was approved by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who wants to curb the influence of the faction led by Newin Chidchob.
Another party source said Mr Sompong was nominated to become foreign minister because PPP core members wanted him to handle hot issues like the Preah Vihear temple and the revocation of Mr Thaksin's diplomatic passport.
Mr Sompong's preference was either staying on as the justice minister or being moved to the Interior Ministry. However, he had to succumb to pressure from inside the PPP, the source said.
Mr Sompong wasted no time on Tuesday in saying goodbye to officials at the Justice Ministry, telling them he was leaving for the Foreign Ministry.
The decision to put him at the Foreign Ministry surprised and worried officials as he has two key issues waiting for him.
He has to resolve the spat with Cambodia over the border dispute and handle Southeast Asian affairs as Thailand now chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Mr Sompong will not have much time to learn about his new job because his first assignment is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and chair an informal meeting of Asean foreign ministers on Sept 29, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Political analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn of Chulalongkorn University was worried about the appointment of Mr Sompong as the foreign minister, given the difficulties of the Thai-Cambodian dispute.
It required a capable person specialising in foreign affairs, the analyst said. He urged Mr Sompong to show his courage by revoking the diplomatic passport of Mr Thaksin.
Historian M.L. Walwipa Charoonroj of Thammasat University said Mr Sompong was not suited to the foreign affairs portfolio. The post required a person well-versed in international policies, not a protector of politicians' interests, she said.
Chart Thai leader Banharn Silpa-archa said he was concerned about Mr Suchart handling finance policy.
When Mr Suchart was a deputy finance minister in the Samak Sundaravej administration he had once criticised the Bank of Thailand, Mr Banharn said. That could lead to problems in the administration.
Mr Chalerm, who was earlier forced out of the interior post by public pressure, has been given some breathing space by health experts.
Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, head of the Rural Doctors' Society, said he had no expectations from the new public health minister as the government will not last long. But he said the new minister could be given a chance to prove his qualifications.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, said the new minister in charge of public health had to improve access to medicine and the universal healthcare scheme.
Puea Pandin also had its own problem after the cabinet line-up was completed as the nomination of Mr Prasong could threaten its unity.
Dissident MPs in Puea Pandin warned of turmoil after party leader Suvit Khunkitti nominated Mr Prasong, a non-MP and reportedly the party's financier, to the post of deputy interior minister again.
Yasothon MP Ronritthichai Khankhet said he and the other seven MPs in the party disagreed with Mr Prasong's nomination as he was not an MP and lacked political experience.
The eight MPs are from the Ban Rim Nam faction and another faction led by party-list MP Sarudej Yasawat.
Mr Ronritthichai said the two factions had eight MPs altogether but none of them were included in the cabinet list.
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