Thai PM under rising pressure to reshuffle Cabinet

BANGKOK — Pressure is mounting on Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to reshuffle his Cabinet and bring in more proactive ministers to tackle the economy, as fears mount of harsher financial times and falling confidence in the government.

Politicians and academics have warned of growing public impatience with the government’s lack of action on the economy, which Mr Prayuth acknowledged.

After having avoided discussion of a reshuffle previously, Mr Prayuth on Friday implied it might be on the cards, while insisting no more military officers would be brought into his Cabinet.

Speculation of a Cabinet shake-up, particularly in economic affairs, to restore public confidence in the government surfaced after the amended interim charter allowing previously banned politicians to become Cabinet ministers came into force on July 15.

Political observers view the amended interim charter as a way for Mr Somkid Jatusripitak, an economic adviser to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) — the ruling military junta — to join the Cabinet to handle economic affairs.

Mr Somkid has worked closely with the NCPO, but was unable to join the military-ruled Cabinet because of the political ban.

A former deputy prime minister in charge of economic issues under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Somkid was one of the 111 former executives of the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party to be banned in 2007.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said Mr Prayuth has to quickly clarify his position on the Cabinet reshuffle. He warned that letting uncertainty linger over the reshuffle would obstruct the work of the government.

Mr Abhisit also called on the government to boost low purchasing power, particularly of farmers who have been affected by falling crop prices and drought. Addressing this issue should help shore up the country’s economy, he added.

Mr Wanchai Sornsiri, a member of the 250-strong National Reform Council formed by the military to write a new charter, stressed the need for a Cabinet shake-up, saying the public was growing impatient with economic problems and the issue could undermine confidence in the government.

The Thai economy grew three per cent in the first quarter as exports and prices declined. Last year, growth was the slowest in four years.

The ruling military junta says it has cracked down on corruption, and that is the reason the country has experienced the slowest economic growth among developing nations in East Asia. The junta, which seized control of the country in a coup in May last year, has spoken frequently of the need for a corruption cleansing, not only among the nation’s politicians but society at large.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has dismissed rumours that he would lose his defence post in a reshuffle. Gen Prawit’s absence from recent government meetings had sparked rumours that he feigned illness because he knew he might be stripped of the post.

Gen Prawit said he has been on sick leave after he took a fall and hurt his arm and leg, which has been put in a splint. Doctors have advised him to rest for two weeks. “I did have a fall. Who would pretend to do so? That’s insane,” Gen Prawit said.

He brushed aside reports that Mr Prayuth would promote Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, who retires as army chief in September, to defence minister. “That’s just a fantasy. There won’t be a change in defence minister. I will have to continue to help the prime minister. He won’t abandon me halfway through.”

Thailand has experienced nearly a decade of political turmoil, as Thaksin and his allies have vied for power with the traditional Bangkok elite threatened by his meteoric rise. Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006 and lives abroad to avoid a jail sentence handed down for graft in 2008. BANGKOK POST