Yingluck: Cabinet ‘made in Thailand’

Yingluck: Cabinet ‘made in Thailand’

Prime minister-designate Yingluck Shinawatra (left) 
and her eldest brother Thaksin Shinawatra (File Photo)

The cabinet lineup is being decided in Thailand without any involvement from overseas by her elder brother, ousted prime minister Thaksin, as was claimed in media reports, prime minister-designate Yingluck Shinawatra said on Thursday.

Ms Yingluck rejected as baseless reports that the selection of cabinet members was 90 per cent done, saying the lineup needs to be considered carefully.

Thaksin's youngest sister said there was no problem in selecting cabinet ministers but the decisions could not be made rapidly because it was necessary to wait until she is officially appointed the prime minister.

Asked whether members of the red-shirt United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) would serve on  the cabinet, Ms Yingluck said she could not say at this time. It was too soon for any conclusions.

She said she already has in mind the people she wants as  economic and national security ministers, but would disclose the details only when the cabinet lineup is finalised.

Ms Yingluck denied knowledge of reports that the executive chairman of Siam Commercial Bank Vichit Surapongchai had resigned his job in preparation to taking up the finance portfolio.

She said there was no decision yet on who would be finance minister and that the cabinet ministers reported as having been decided on by the media were not all in accord with the lineup that she and the Pheu Thai Party were considering.

Pheu Thai list MP and UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan insisted today that the party's MPs who are core leaders of the red-shirt movement had not asked for any ministerial positions.

"I have made it clear that the cabinet ministers' selection is a matter for the Pheu Thai Party. Whether or not UDD co-leaders will be made cabinet members is not a big issue.

"There will be no problem whatever the cabinet lineup is. The most important thing is that the ministers must be honest to the country and the Thai people," said Mr Jatuporn.

He believed the reports that Thaksin had discussed the person to serve as defence minister with army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha to be only rumour aimed at discrediting the party. This position would be considered by Pheu Thai itself, he added.

Outgoing Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to comment on the selection of individual cabinet members, saying it is for the Pheu Thai Party to decide.

However, Mr Abhisit said the new prime minister must take responsibility for the allocation of cabinet posts as the public wanted honest and competent people to work for the country, and should not let the problems of politicians overshadow the cabinet selection.

Mr Abhisit said he hoped the Pheu Thai-led government could rapidly solve the problem of the high cost of living and use the parliamentary mechanism to settle political problems and conflict.

He said if the Yingluck Shinawatra government performs well the Democrats would allow it to continue working. If not, it would not be given any more chances.

Asked about the UDD's demand for the release of red-shirt supporters from prison, Mr Abhisit said the judicial authorities would decide this issue, not the government administration.
The Democrat leader said his party's executive committee would decide if a shadow cabinet would be set up.
Army chief Prayuth today totally denied reports that he had discussed the question of who should be defence minister with ousted premier Thaksin.

Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

Gen Prayuth said he had never talked to Thaksin on the phone or via Skype over the internet as was reported.

The decision on who should hold the defence portfolio rests with the new government, he added.

"If Ms Yingluck wants to meet me to discuss the issue, I am ready to meet her," he said.

The commander-in-chief said the army was not in a position to bargain with the next government and was ready to do its duty under orders issued by the administrative branch.

He said the new defence minister should be able to create a good working climate, be knowledgeable, capable and experienced, because the internal security situation keeps changing.

Gen Prayuth said there was nothing strange about Thailand having a woman as prime minister. Several other countries also have female leaders.