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Published on January 31, 2008

Party leader and new Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was unhappy with the previous list, particularly involving certain candidates for the portfolios of education, energy and transport, according to the source.

In the latest change, Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was expected to become education minister and a deputy PM. Earlier, Anusorn Wongwan was tipped to assume the education seat.

Many People Power MPs were upset with speculation that Newin Chidchob's father Chai would be appointed PM's Office minister, the source said. So it was likely that Newin, a banned Thai Rak Thai executive, would back his close aide Teerachai Saenkaew to assume the post.

Mingkwan Saengsuwan was yesterday expected to serve as transport minister in addition to a deputy PM post. The previous candidate for the transport seat was Santi Promphat.

The energy portfolio will be given to the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party, the source said.

People Power designated Samak to finalise the Cabinet line-up, which is expected to be ready for royal endorsement today, party spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said yesterday following a party executive meeting.

"Samak alone will have the final say on the allocation of Cabinet seats before presenting the list for royal endorsement," Kuthep said, insisting he would withhold the names of new ministers until the release of the royal command.

He said party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee and deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat had received the nominations submitted by coalition partners and the party executive committee asked Samak to vet the list of ministerial appointments.

He said Samak pledged to "break the ice" with his ministers in order to forge the teamwork of his Cabinet.

The Cabinet is expected to assume office on Tuesday following a swearing-in ceremony before His Majesty the King.

Samak said yesterday that he would have a final meeting with coalition leaders later today to complete the Cabinet line-up.

"Since this is a coalition government, it takes time to allocate seats but we should have the new Cabinet by tomorrow," he said.

Samak was upbeat that his Cabinet would be acceptable to the public and that his leadership would last up to two terms.

"Even Chart Thai Party chief adviser Sanan Kachornprasart told me that I should serve to the best of my ability as this is the last stretch of my career - a short period would be four years and a long one for eight years," he said.

In a related development, Chart Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa said his party had almost completed lining up its five Cabinet seats with only one position remaining.

"I have yet to come up with one more name but this is not a problem," he said, refusing to identify which position to fill.

Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prisanananthakul said his party would submit its Cabinet list to Samak today.

A Chart Thai source said its five ministers would be Somsak as agriculture and cooperatives minister, Kamol Jiraphanwanich as his deputy, Weerasak Kowsurat as tourism and sport minister, Sanan Kachornprasart as deputy prime minister and Anurak Jureemas as deputy transport minister.

Meanwhile, four ministers from Puea Paendin's quota would be Man Patthanothai, party chief adviser Wattana Assavahem's close aide who is expected to become ICT minister; Sitthichai Kosurat as deputy interior minister; party leader Suwit Khunkitti as deputy prime minister and industry minister; and Ranongrat Suwanchawee, wife of banned Thai Rak Thai executive Pairote Suwanchawee, as deputy finance minister.

Piyanart Srivalo,

Samatcha Hunsara

The Nation