Yingluck denies Thaksin influence in reshuffle
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra insisted yesterday that all decisions on the Cabinet reshuffle were entirely her own and that her brother, former PM Thaksin, had nothing to do with the matter.
“I am solely responsible for the Cabinet line-up, Thaksin is not linked,” she said, adding that she would explain her choices once the appointments get royal endorsement.
She also said that she had changed the Cabinet in order to streamline and strengthen her work, arguing that she had not paid any attention to the number of positions involved.
However, she would not confirm whether Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua was experienced enough for the post of deputy agriculture minister.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha seems to be delighted by the deputy PM’s post he will get in the Cabinet reshuffle.
He said he was happy to get a post that had a wider jurisdiction. In the new job, he will be in charge of four key agencies related to national security, including Internal Security Operations Command, National Security Council, National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Ministry.
Yuthasak said he had no problems in dealing with the military, especially as he was still respected by junior colleagues.
“I did not have a clue about the Cabinet reshuffle before. The prime minister told me on Monday that she would put me in charge of national security and make me her deputy,” Yuthasak said.
Meanwhile, Sakda Kongpet said he knew he would be given the post of deputy education minister after he met with Thaksin in Hong Kong before New Year’s Day.
“I flew to meet Thaksin and subsequently learned about my appointment in advance,” he said.
Sakda, a Pheu Thai MP from Roi Et, said the former PM had told him that members of the Cabinet and MPs should be more effective. He added that he was ready to start his new job and promised to show results.
Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal Sumet Photimanee said yesterday that the next military reshuffle would be a litmus test of the ties between the top brass and the government.
“I believe the Defence Ministry Administration Act will have to be amended, paving the way for political supervision of military appointments,” he said.
Sumet, chairman of the Airports of Thailand board and Thaksin’s close ally, was commenting on the new Cabinet line-up under which Air Chief Marshal Sukampol Suwannathat is poised to become defence minister. Like Thaksin, Sukampol is also a Pre-Cadet Class 10 graduate.
Sumet added that Sukampol will try to work with top military leaders, particularly Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, before deciding whether any changes in the military line-up were needed.
“There will be no problem if the defence minister and top military brass can cooperate, work and consult one another when trying to solve problems,” he said.
Many of Thaksin’s allies in the military and the ruling Pheu Thai Party believe that Yuthasak is being moved to the deputy PM’s post because he has been a “soft” leader who allowed the top brass to gain an upper hand over the government.
