‘Time ripe’ for a reshuffle

Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit yesterday declared the time was ripe for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to have a cabinet reshuffle in order to fill a number of vacancies.

The announcement came as Mr Jurin announced the party’s decision to name Naris Khamnurak, a Democrat MP for Phatthalung, as deputy interior minister. He would fill a seat left vacant by Niphon Bunyamanaee, who resigned from the position to fight malfeasance charges stemming from his time at the Songkhla provincial administration organisation (PAO) in 2013.

Mr Jurin said Mr Naris’ name has been forwarded to Gen Prayut, who will ask His Majesty the King to endorse his appointment as deputy interior minister.

With the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) now finished, the prime minister has no reason to delay Mr Naris’ appointment, he stressed. The Democrat leader said last month that he would bring the matter to Gen Prayut’s attention once the Constitutional Court makes a decision on his tenure.

The Democrats’ move is likely to trigger a cabinet shake-up that has also been sought by the ruling Palang Pracharath Party and the Bhumjaithai Party.

The PPRP has yet to fill the deputy agriculture minister post vacated by Capt Thamanat Prompow and the deputy labour minister post left vacant by Narumon Pinyosinwat, both of whom were sacked by Gen Prayut last year.

The Bhumjaithai Party, meanwhile, has a deputy education minister post to fill, which had been filled by Kanokwan Vilawan.

Observers have said Gen Prayut may be reluctant to make cabinet changes as the House of Representative’s term is due to end in March next year.