Suwat and Sonthaya seeking immediate return to Cabinet
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Coalition parties are calling for a Cabinet reshuffle, as the 111 former Thai Rak Thai executives will be free to re-enter politics when their five-year ban ends this week.
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to suddenly change three Cabinet posts. First, Chart Pattana Party wants Suwat Liptapanlop to replace Pongsvas Svasti as Industry Minister.
Second, Phalang Chon Party wants Sonthaya Kunplome to replace his wife Sukumol Kunplome as Culture Minister.
And third, Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut will be dropped from Chart Thai’s ministerial quota.
The source said Suwat also requested to be a deputy prime minister too, but the ruling Pheu Thai Party had turned him down, allegedly saying the Industry Ministry was an economic unit that should be supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.
Meanwhile, Phalang Chon’s Sonthaya was reportedly seeking a bigger ministry. He allegedly wanted the Tourism and Sports Ministry, but the current holders of the ministry – Chart Thai – refused to give it up. So, he has allegedly turned his sights on the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
Asked whether a reshuffle would take place among Pheu Thai ministers, the source said they would possibly do it only after the coalition agreed, to maintain the government’s stability. And red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan was earmarked to become a deputy interior minister.
Today marks the end of the five-year political ban for 111 former TRT executives, who plan to hold a ceremony to celebrate the occasion. The event will start at 10am, with merit making in a religious ceremony and the release of pigeons at Pheu Thai Party headquarters, Vichit Plangsrisakul, secretary general of the Thai Rak Thai 111 Foundation, said.
After lunch, they will move to the Rama Garden Hotel for a seminar, with lectures by Bhokin Palakul, Chaturon Chaisaeng, Pongthep Thepkanchana and Veera Musikapong. They will talk about results of the 2006 coup, injustice in Thailand and TRT being disbanded.
“Then, there will be statement reading and if it goes according to schedule, Thaksin Shinawatra will joining the statement reading via Skype.” Vichit said.
The former party executives will later gather at the Miracle Grand Hotel for dinner at about 6pm. This will start with shows such as a mock political opera, singing, comedy, and will include talks by the 111 former TRT officials. Vichit expected the party would end at 10pm-11pm – not too late, as some of them will go to Pheu Thai Party to apply to be members at 11am tomorrow.
Vichit said the foundation planned to publish a pocket-book with opinions and feelings of the 111 former TRT executives after the party was dissolved, and Thaksin was part of that. But he said the project was not finished yet and no date had been set for its release.
