Major reshuffle now on the cards

There will be a major Cabinet reshuffle involving adjustments to economic portfolios in addition to filling vacant ministerial seats, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said yesterday.

Surapong, in his capacity as secretary-general of the ruling People Power Party, said he believed Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej would soon conduct a major shake-up of the embattled government now that more than a few of his Cabinet members have stepped down.

Jakrapob Penkair resigned from the post of PM's Office minister in May amidst public pressure over a controversial speech in which he was seen to refer to the monarchy.

Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap will have to leave his position after the Constitution Court ruled on Wednesday that he had failed to file a proper report about his wife's assets.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama yesterday announced his resignation after mounting political pressure over the listing of Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site. His resignation will be effective from this coming Monday.

A number of other Cabinet members, including the prime minister and the finance minister, are facing legal cases in which they can be forced to suspend their duties when court trials begin.

"A Cabinet reshuffle is inevitable," Surapong said yesterday. "Well-qualified and credible persons will be appointed. The changes will affect not only the economic ministers. The prime minister will decide later when to make the adjustments."

For Surapong, dissolving the House of Representatives is not a good solution to the current situation. "By doing so, all policies will be suspended. I believe that things will improve after the Cabinet reshuffle," he said.

Meanwhile, government chief whip Samart Kaewmeechai said yesterday that there were two possible options left as a way out of the political situation: a major Cabinet shake-up and the PM's resignation. He ruled out the possibility of a House dissolution.

He said government whips would meet on Monday to discuss possible solutions to the political crisis.

In a related development, Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday reiterated his call for a major Cabinet shake-up to restore public confidence in the government.

"There are big question marks about the government's credibility in terms of the economy, security and other policies that have seen no progress," said Abhisit, leader of the Democrat Party.

He also expressed concern about the Samak reportedly blaming "the Constitution's traps" for all the legal and political troubles facing the governing political party.

"That is worrying. In the future, we may see bandits complaining that there are problems in the Penal Code," Abhisit said

"You can't blame the law. It's the rules. If you think the rules are not good, let's debate how to change them. But as long as the rules exist and you are aware of their existence, you can't blame them when you fail to follow them," he added.