BANGKOK, Feb 6 (TNA)—The line-up of Thailand’s 57th Cabinet was officially announced Friday in a move some critics seen as quid pro quo to allies of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, at the helm of the 36-member Cabinet, takes a concurrent post of defence minister, becoming the country’s third civilian to assume the influential task of overseeing the armed forces.

His two predecessors were late prime minister Seni Pramoj and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, both attached to the Democrat Party. Mr. Samak, 72, entered politics under the Democrat banner before founding his own political party, Prachakorn Thai.

In the new line-up, the People Power Party (PPP) which has 236 MPs in the 480-seat House of Representatives undisputedly dominates the Cabinet.

It controls such powerful portfolios as defence, finance, foreign affairs, commerce, interior and justice. The crucial ministries all went to close allies, advisors and relatives of ex-premier Thaksin  who has been in self-imposed exile abroad, mostly in London, since the Sept 2006 coup.

The finance portfolio went to PPP secretary general Surapong Suebwonglee who has been working with Thaksin for years and kept close contact with the former premier until these days.

Dr. Surapong, a medical science graduate and concurrently deputy prime minister, will jointly oversee the country’s economic issues, with marketing-oriented Mingkwan Saengsuwan, deputy prime minister and commerce minister.

Prime Minister Samak, claiming that economy is too big a task for just one person, said Dr. Surapong will see to it that the country’s financial discipline is followed while Mr. Mingkwan will concentrate on making money for the country.

Comparing the Cabinet to a private company, Surapong said he will be the country’s CFO (chief finance officer) while Mr. Mingkwan will be the CMO (chief marketing officer).

Oxford-educated Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin’s top legal advisor who admitted fear for his own life in the past year, was named foreign minister—a cr?me-de-la-cr?me portfolio considered a reward for his trustworthiness
and loyalty to him.

Sharp-tongued Chalerm Yoobamrung, another close ally of Thaksin who announced before the December 23 general election that he flew to London to discuss his political future with the ex-premier, becomes interior minister while the justice post went to Sompong Amornwiwat, Thaksin’s boyhood classmate.

Thaksin’s brother-in-law, Somchai Wongsawat, was appointed education minister in addition to another post as deputy prime minister.

Three other deputy premiers are Maj. Gen. Sanan Kachornprasart of Chart Thai  Party, Suwit Khunkitti of Puea Pandin Party and Sahas Banditkul, Samak’s close ally and a PPP lawmaker.

It was reported that Samak earlier put Sahas in the transport portfolio but was rejected and replaced by Santi Prompat, a close friend of a minister in the Thaksin government.

The ministerial posts in tourism and sports, and agriculture went to the Chart Thai Party while three smaller parties in the coalition--Machimathipataya, Ruamjaithai Chart Pattana and Pracharaj--were allocated deputy ministership in finance, commerce and labour. (TNA)