Strong-arm the party strongmen
The growing political tension around Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is compelling him to initiate a cabinet reshuffle the way he sees fit, even if it upsets the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), according to a highly placed source in the ruling party.
For weeks, key party members have been demanding a reallocation of cabinet posts to be filled by its executives. All the time, though, they may have lost sight of the reality that Gen Prayut has the vital ministerial portfolios they want firmly in his grip.
The posts in question include the finance minister and energy minister, two of the most coveted seats in the cabinet line-up.
While key members of the PPRP have reiterated that the two posts belong to the party and must be returned to it now their previous occupants have quit, Gen Prayut has repeatedly asserted his rightful claim to them.
Political watchers stood back and watched to see whether the ruling party or Gen Prayut would have the last laugh. Apparently, it was Gen Prayut.
But before the prime minister exercised his rights over the ministerial quota, he bore witness to what critics said was a political circus that was played out in the PPRP.
After having successfully booted out its previous leader, Uttama Savanayana, who also held the post of finance minister, and the former party secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong, who had served as energy minister, some PPRP executives engaged in horse-trading, thinking the two cabinet seats were now up for grabs.
This week, Paiboon Nititawan publicly insisted the Energy Ministry was reserved for fellow deputy PPRP leader Suriya Jungrungreangkit, who is currently the industry minister. Since the government’s inception last year, it has been an open secret that Mr Suriya has had his eye on the industry seat.
It was unclear why Mr Suriya, a co-founder of the powerful Sam Mitr (Three Allies) faction in the PPRP, was particularly keen to take over the energy portfolio, according to the observers.
However, one thing was certain and that was Gen Prayut would do everything in his power to keep himself from being backed into a corner. To mitigate intensifying political pressure on him from both inside the government and outside parliament, Gen Prayut realised he would need to eliminate the preconditions that would turn the heat up on him.
The highly placed source in the PPRP said if Gen Prayut caved in to demands from some PPRP executives to reshuffle the cabinet the way they wanted, it would give the young antigovernment protesters political ammunition with which to attack him and the government.
According to a government source, the new cabinet line-up, which Gen Prayut confirmed had been finalised early this week, includes Predee Daochai, a co-president of Kasikornbank and chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association, who will become deputy prime minister and concurrently serve as finance minister.
Former deputy transport minister Pailin Chuchottaworn is also said to be touted for the sought-after role of energy minister. If this proves true, Mr Suriya’s hopes of securing the portfolio will have been dashed, the source said.
A political scientist said that entrusting important economic ministerial posts to PPRP politicians when the Covid 19-battered country is in dire need of experienced professionals to revive the economy would hurt the government’s image and erode public trust in the administration. Its opponents would have a field day trumpeting the cabinet’s alleged ineptitude which would possibly lead to a crisis of confidence in the government and eventually its downfall.
Gen Prayut also has the upper hand over the PPRP executives in deciding who gets what in the cabinet. After all, the PPRP was established mainly to support Gen Prayut’s return as prime minister following the March 24 general election last year.
The political scientist said the PPRP has matured into the major party that it is today because supporters gave it their votes in a bid to ensure Gen Prayut remained as head of the government.
Giving Gen Prayut a free hand to name a new cabinet line-up could help stem a continuing decline in the PPRP’s popularity which has ebbed due to the “stubborn” and excessive demands of some members over the party’s share of cabinet seats in the reshuffle.
“So, by refusing to yield to the party, Gen Prayut is giving the anti-government elements one less pretext to use to launch an attack,” the political scientist said.