Success as a premier is really up to Yingluck

All administration matters have been put in Suranand’s hands since he took over as the prime minister’s secretary-general in June. Apart from taking care of Yingluck’s official administration duties, he has also been giving her advice on how she can improve her image.
It’s clear that the premier is satisfied and even impressed by Suranand’s performance. Perhaps it reminds her of her old job as a CEO, especially as Suranand screens everything before putting it to her for the final nod.
This secretary-general seems to be more in charge when compared to his predecessor Bantoon Supakvanit, who only seemed to help her with documents and budget-related issues.
Unlike Bantoon, Suranand holds a “morning brief” with all units under the PM’s Office at 7.30am every day to discuss and analyse news of the day so Yingluck’s position as PM can be strengthened. Suranand then briefs the PM about the meeting.
In addition, Suranand also holds a meeting with the National Intelligence Agency every Monday morning to find out what’s going on. This initially confused the agency, because it normally reports to its supervisor, Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha who is in charge of security affairs.
Other than all this, Suranand is also Yingluck’s eyes and ears. He is very careful and tries to keep the government’s confidential information away from the public. He even controls how many high-ranking officials attend meetings, insisting that only those who are necessary attend. This, apparently, is a move to block any leakage of confidential information.
In fact, he stopped some key officials – such as the chiefs of the Public Relations Department and the National Intelligence Agency – from attending a recent Cabinet meeting. Also, he has been heard telling those attending meetings with the premier to leave their aides outside.
“Only those who have a final say can stay here and those not involved should be outside,” he was quoted as saying. He has also told staff members to remove vacant chairs from the meeting rooms so those not involved can stay out.
Though Suranand appears to be a saviour for Yingluck, members of his party consider him a traitor. When he was a member of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, he had several clashes with key party member Sudarat Keyuraphan. Then, after the September 2006 coup, he broke away to form Bangkok 50. He served as the group’s leader for a while before it joined the Puea Pandin Party. His close friendship with former finance minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who was once Thaksin’s ally and later seen as his challenger for the prime minister’s seat, put Suranand in a camp opposite to that of Thaksin.
It is believed that he only joined Pheu Thai after Puea Pandin’s lustre started fading.
Now, it appears as if Suranand along with PM’s Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal and one of Yingluck’s personal secretaries has formed a new faction that reports directly to the premier.
While Yingluck has Suranand alongside, acting as her “little prime minister” and dealing with administration matters, she seems to have left all political matters in the hands of her brother Thaksin and her deputy, Chalerm Yoobamrung.
Perhaps this will give her an opportunity to focus on her real job, so now her success as prime minister is very much in her hands.