Reshuffle of 6-7 ministers can resolve political, national problems

BANGKOK, June 4 (TNA) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cabinet reshuffle will involve six or seven ministers and the changes can resolve both political and the country’s wider national problems.

Mr Abhisit said the new Cabinet list to be shuffled was complete and the Cabinet Secretariat is verifying the nominees’ qualifications.

Asked whether the changes would be in response to the more narrow political problems of the coalition parties or the country’s wider spectrum of problems, the premier said ‘Both.’

The executive board of the ruling Democrat Party and the later meeting of party MPs resolved that three ministers would be removed — Minister of Culture Teera Slukpetch, Minister of Labour Phaitoon Kaeothong and Minister of Science and Technology Kalaya Sophonpanich.

Meanwhile, four party MPs will be nominated as ministers — Nipit Intarasombat, Ong-art Klampaiboon, Juti Krairerk, and Chalermchai Sri-on.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said after the Democrat MPs meeting that he had completed his duty regarding the changes and would not mention the matter again until His Majesty the King had given royal approval to the list of new ministers.

Mr Suthep said he believed there would be no problem about the new cabinet lineup but noted “Nothing in the world is free of problems.”

Mr Nipit later admitted that he was nominated as a new minister but what portfolio to hold depended on the prime minister’s decision.

The Cabinet reshuffle came following a Bhumjaithai Party ultimatum to the Democrats to remove some  Puea Pandin Party factions from the six-party coalition government after some Puea Pandin MPs voted against the Bhumjaithai ministers in the no-confidence debate on Wednesday.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnweerakul, as Interior Minister, and Sopon Zarum, as Transport Minister, received less votes than the prime minister and other three ministers.

Coalition partner Chart Thai Pattana party said that there was no ministerial change under its party quota, while Bhumjaithai Party had no plan to change its ministers. (TNA)