Thailand's new Cabinet not that ugly-duckling
- By Nutthathirataa Withitwinyuchon
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Xinhua, August 11, 2011
The Cabinet of the first female premier of Thailand, which officially received royal endorsement Tuesday night, will on Wednesday evening have an audience with His Majesty the King in order to swear an oath of allegiance.
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Newly-elected Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (4th, L, Front) poses for a group photo with her cabinet members at the Thai Government House in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on Aug. 10, 2011. [Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak] |
The freshly endorsed Cabinet might not be that ugly duckling cabinet lineup but it might not project bright future for the new government as well, said political observers.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's cabinet lineup is actually quite acceptable according to political commentators as it doesn't include any members of the "Red Shirt" movement. The former deputy House speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, the only Red Shirt core figure on the cabinet list, was proposed with PM's office minister but he eventually declined.
About 80 percent of the cabinet members or 29 out of 35 are selected from Pheu Thai members while four come under the quota of coalition parties and two are outsiders. Most of them appears to have very close ties with the Shinawatra family, namely the ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his two sisters Yaowapa and Yingluck.
Several faces are unfamiliar and people question their qualification and efficiency. Pheu Thai Party made a prudent decision, however, when it comes to the ministries that have to deal with economic issues such as finance and commerce.
Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, who recently resigned as secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, was put as finance minister while Kittirat na Ranong, who formerly served as president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, as commerce minister.
People from business sector seemed to be satisfied with these choices, praising both have depth experience in Thai economy although Kittirat's ability to tackle macroeconomic issues is doubted.
Before the final conclusion for the post of finance minister would come out, there have been rumors about some other candidates, but finally they all turned down Pheu Thai's offer.
Defense minister is a wise selection of Pheu Thai as well. Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapha, the party listed MP, is widely known to have tight relationships with Thaksin and at the same time good connection with the top-brass. He was seen to best fit in the position which also requires an ability to amend antagonisms between Pheu Thai Party and generals.
Thaksin was deposed in bloodless coup detat in 2006 by a powerful group of army which is called "Burapha Phayak" (East Tiger) and closely linked to the establishment. This army group was also allegedly behind the rise into power of the Democrat Party and Abhisit's government in 2008.
Despite living half the world away in a cosmopolitan city of Dubai, Thaksin has been thought to be the key decision maker of the cabinet line-up. Leaders of Chat Thai Pattana (CTP), a coalition party, flew to meet him in Hong Kong in July to discuss about CTP's quota.
Taking relevant experience and educational background of the new foreign minister into consideration, Surapong Towichukchaikul is an inappropriate alternative. He has three degrees in engineering and never comes close to the matter of foreign affairs.
Stability of Yingluck's first cabinet is questionable. Most analysts give the new government one year at most, given that the ban order of those influential 111 politicians is to be lifted in May next year.
Dr. Jermsak Pinthong, the former senator and top political observer, said in his radio program Wednesday morning that it was very likely that Yingluck's first cabinet would stay in the office for roughly one year before possible reshuffle would take place next year. The real players would take the field when their political ban was revoked, he added.
Most of Thai media views that, in general, the current Cabinet is acceptable as there is no single figure of Red Shirts in spite of many of them on the MP list. Pheu Thai could have tried to avoid criticisms and unpleasant image as Red Shirts have been unavoidably linked to the political violence and unrest in the past two years.
At 5.30 p.m. Wednesday evening, all new cabinet members are scheduled to swear an oath of allegiance to His Majesty the King. In 15 days after the sworn-in ceremony, the government must announce policy statement before the Parliament, according to the Constitution.
The first and foremost mission that the new prime minister has to take action urgently is to address grievances of the flood-hit people in northern, northeastern and central regions.
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