April 9, 2024
BANGKOK – The premier was speaking to reporters on Monday during a visit to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Last week, a Pheu Thai source was quoted as saying that Srettha will change his Cabinet line-up in early June by reallocating a ministry portfolio held by Pheu Thai and a deputy minister’s post held by Bhumjaithai. These posts are expected to be handed to the Democrat Party if it does join the coalition in June as speculated.
Currently, coalition partners Pheu Thai and Palang Pracharath Party still have one Cabinet seat left in their quota.
Srettha, meanwhile, said no coalition partner has spoken to him about plans to change the Cabinet line-up, adding that he will not interfere in any decision even though he will be the one endorsing appointments.
Asked if Pheu Thai will fill its remaining quota, Srettha said: “We still have one position left, but we will discuss it when it is time.”
When asked to confirm if Pheu Thai will fill the position, he replied: “The party may discuss it and propose it to me later.”
When asked if Palang Pracharath will also want to fill its remaining quota, the premier said he has not spoken about it with the party’s leaders. He added that he will not broach the subject when he meets Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Thamanat is Palang Pracharath’s secretary-genera.
“But if he proposes a name to be appointed to his party’s quote, I will acknowledge it. No matter who the party proposes, I will pass the name on to the committee in charge of verifying qualifications,” he said.
Srettha added that he did not engage in the old practice of intimidating people, adding that he was open to his coalition partners at all times.
For instance, he said, there has never been any anger between him and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party.
“That’s the old way of politics. Coalition partners can talk to me directly and tell me what they want,” Srettha said.
It is believed Srettha may have ruffled feathers at Bhumjaithai when he made comments about criminalising marijuana and over rumours of him considering handing one of its Cabinet seats to the Democrat Party.