Deputy PM denies Thaksin influence in cabinet rejig
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday denied paroled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has had a say in an imminent cabinet reshuffle, adding that Thaksin did not attend an important meeting on Thursday.
Mr Phumtham was referring to a meeting between himself and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at the Rosewood Hotel, a luxury property owned by the Shinawatra family.
It was widely reported that the pair met with the alleged de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party to finalise a new cabinet line-up.
But the deputy prime minister said the changes to the cabinet line-up were not discussed at the meeting.
Mr Phumtham said the meeting, also attended by Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, touched on several other issues, including a planned visit to Chanthaburi today, free trade agreements, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Pheu Thai veteran politician remained coy about the highly speculated reshuffle when asked about the issue. He said it was up to Mr Srettha and that no coalition partners had proposed any changes.
Speculation about the shake-up intensified after Pichai Chunhavajira, currently an adviser to Mr Srettha, resigned from his positions as the chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the energy conglomerate Bangchak Corp, and the renewable power producer BCPG Plc. He is strongly tipped to become the new finance minister, a post concurrently filled by Mr Srettha.
Meanwhile, Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday declined to provide details about the cabinet reshuffle regarding the party’s quota. However, Mr Prawit insisted that only one candidate was put forward when asked about reports that four names had been submitted.
When asked if it was Chachoengsao MP Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn, he denied it before changing his answer to “I don’t know. I’m not telling.”
It has been reported that the PPRP will be given a deputy minister position in a ministry that has yet to be decided.
Among others supposedly nominated as PPRP candidates for a ministerial post is Anan Phol-amnuay.