BANGKOK: Two veteran editors of the Nation Group, who are political experts with reliable inside sources, predicted that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin would definitely change his Cabinet lineup after the Songkran holidays.
Group editors Somchai Meesen and Weerasak Pongaksorn predicted a major Cabinet reshuffle during their Nation Insight programme broadcast live on Nation TV (22) on Thursday (April 11).
They expected several new faces to be inducted into the Cabinet, while several ministers, including those holding the defence and tourism portfolios, would be removed.
According to the analysis, the Srettha Cabinet 2.0 will not include the Democrat Party and is likely to be announced any day between April 16 and 18.
As part of the coalition quota, the Palang Pracharath Party would seek control of three portfolios -- from its present two -- including the Agriculture Ministry by removing a deputy agriculture minister from the United Thai Nation Party and another from the Pheu Thai. Palang Pracharath would fill its vacant berth under its quota and have three Cabinet members.
Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow, who is Palang Pracharath's secretary-general, would retain his seat but he would push his right-hand man Phai Lik, a Kamphaeng Phet MP, to become his deputy.
At the same time, Palang Pracharath leader General Prawit Wongsuwan would push his favoured MP, Chaiwut Thanakommanusorn, as the second deputy agriculture minister.
The United Thai Nation would also make changes to its lineup. It is expected that Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana and Deputy Agriculture Minister Anucha Nakasai would be removed from the Cabinet.
Their replacements would include Suchart Chomklin, a leader of the Chon Buri MPs group. It is yet to be seen which ministry he would be assigned.
A group of six United Thai Nation MPs would also nominate their representative with the initial “S” to become a minister in this reshuffle.
The ruling Pheu Thai would see several of its ministers removed and see new faces added to the Cabinet under its quota.
Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, PM’s Office Minister Puangphet Choonla-iad, Deputy Interior Minister Kriang Kantinan, and Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma would be removed from the Cabinet.
Pheu Thai ministers, who would switch portfolios, include Srettha, who would give up the Finance Ministry and take charge of defence. Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol would swap posts with Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanit.
Pheu Thai’s new faces would include Pichai Chunhavajira, chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s board, and Paophum Rojanasakul. Pichai would become the new finance minister while Paophum would be given the post of deputy finance minister.
Pheu Thai’s Bangkok MP Thirarat Samretwanit and PM’s adviser Phichit Chuenban might also find a place in the Cabinet.
The two editors noted that Palang Pracharath would have total control over the Agriculture Ministry, and Pheu Thai would seek total control of the Finance Ministry in the upcoming reshuffle. - The Nation/ANN
