Yingluck, Thaksin at odds?

There has been a perception Pansak is trying to oust Kittiratt, both as finance minister and the deputy premier in charge of the government’s economic team. 

Kittiratt has stubbornly refused to follow suggestions from Pansak, who considers himself a key economic adviser. One of Thaksin’s trusted aides, Pansak proposed several measures for financial and monetary matters.

After Kittiratt admitted to telling “white lies” about national economic growth targets, it was rumoured he would be replaced. However, it appears the finance minister and the head of the government’s economic team has remained stable.

Then came a new controversy.

A group of Government House reporters was recorded on video criticising Kittiratt’s performance in the press room. A copy of the video was later sent from Pansak’s room to the prime minister’s office in the Thai Khufah Building. The clip appeared to be intended to prove that reporters were unimpressed with Kittiratt. This was the latest in a series of moves obviously targeting the finance minister.

However, the result so far has been unexpected – at least for Pansak. Reporters complained about the media being used as a political tool. And the PM became more angry at Pansak. For her, the video-clip controversy was demeaning and disrespectful. The people involved were viewed as failing to respect Yingluck as government leader.

After more than one year in office as the government head, Yingluck appears to be more confident in running the country, despite a number of shortcomings in the eyes of many critics and observers. The prime minister has insisted she wants Kittiratt to remain as her economic czar. She is more comfortable working with Kittiratt, who is considered her friend and trusted adviser on economic matters. 

When former finance minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala was in conflict with Kittiratt, then the commerce minister, the prime minister was not reluctant to oust Thirachai from her Cabinet. 

And now, with the growing rift between Kittiratt and Pansak, the latter has seen a wider distance between him and the prime minister. Pansak has now found it more difficult to reach Yingluck, due to obstacles by her close aides, led by the PM’s secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva.

Pansak was once a candidate to head the government’s economic team but he later had to be satisfied with the post of chief adviser to the PM. Thaksin, believed to be pulling strings behind the government, did not oppose Yingluck’s wish to have her trusted friend serve as chief of their economic team.

These moves have raised questions of whether Pansak wants to take Kittiratt’s seat, or whether his moves have been encouraged by others. It is yet to be seen if he will succeed in ousting Kittiratt and if the prime minister, for the rest of her time in office, can resist the pressure for her finance minister to be replaced.

Both Kittiratt and Pansak have strong supporters behind them. While Yingluck has strongly defended the former, the latter has been backed by Thaksin from the beginning.