Coalition allies told cabinet lineup is final

Coalition parties have been told not to make any further changes to the names in the cabinet lineup as the list is now being checked by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.

Mr Wissanu said yesterday the premier has received the full list of potential cabinet ministers and parties joining the coalition government have been informed that “the list will no longer be amended”.

“If there is an in-house dispute between the parties [regarding the list], they will have to solve the problem themselves,” said Mr Wissanu.

Reports have emerged that some names were vetoed as they were seen to be “influential figures” or being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

One of them was said to be Uthai Thani MP Chada Thaiseth from the Bhumjaithai Party, who fielded his younger sister, Mananya, to replace him as deputy agriculture minister.

Mr Chada said yesterday he is happy to serve as an MP and respected the decision made by senior party figures.

Responding to allegations that he is an influential figure, Mr Chada said, “I am not sad that I am seen as an influential figure. For those who vilify me, this is their problem, not mine.”

Meanwhile, the Thai Forest Conservation Party, which gained two MPs in the election, appears likely to break away from the coalition agreement after the natural resources and environment ministerial position — which the party wished to be in charge of — was reportedly handed to the Chartthaipattana Party.

Damrong Pidech, the party leader, said, “If those handling the cabinet lineup don’t trust us, we may have to walk away.”

House Speaker Chuan Leekpai yesterday shot down a proposal by an opposition MP calling for a debate on the status of the cabinet after Gen Prayut Chan-ocha received royal endorsement as the new premier on the same day.

Future Forward Party list-MP Wirat Phantumakul asked the chamber to discuss whether the cabinet — set up by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) — was technically dissolved after Gen Prayut was formally appointed as the prime minister.

The new cabinet however, is not appointed yet.

According to Mr Wirat, the permanent secretary of each ministry should serve as acting ministers until a new cabinet is sworn-in.

However, Mr Chuan threw out his proposal, saying Section 264 of the charter allows the NCPO to carry on its duties until new cabinet members are officially installed.

Prior to the meeting, Sorasak Pienvej, secretary-general of the House of Representatives, yesterday read out the royal command appointing Gen Prayut as the prime minister to the House.

Mr Sorasak also informed the chamber that Democrat Party list MP Suthas Ngernmuen was endorsed as an MP following the resignation of Abhisit Vejjajiva on June 5. Mr Suthas yesterday took the oath before the House.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the NCPO-appointed cabinet has the full authority under the provisional clause in the charter to conduct meetings and make decisions.

He said the cabinet has work to do including carrying on duties and proposing issues at the 34th Asean Summit this weekend and also the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 27-28. According to Mr Wissanu, the House of Representatives has also prepared a number of interpellation motions and it is the cabinet’s duty to respond to the MP’s questions.

“The House has prepared questions and it is this cabinet to answer them. The House sees the cabinet as having full authority,” he said.