Cabinet 'ugly' even by lowest standards

It's not that we expected too much from Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, but our new premier still managed to disappoint with his announcement of the new Cabinet line-up on Wednesday. Not only were unqualified politicians selected to take the helm of key economic ministries, but Somchai's choices also clearly show that he used the quota system to allocate power to satisfy the various political factions.

This is the general consensus among those in the business sector. Tawatchai Yongkittikul, the secretary-general of the Thai Bankers' Association, said yesterday that he didn't expect much from this Cabinet line-up. Dusit Nontanakorn, the vice-chairman of Thailand's Board of Trade, said the line-up obviously was the result of an effort to let all factions share power rather than an attempt to serve the country's best interests.

Of course, Somchai's camp may ask why the Cabinet is such a concern since critics don't expect the government to last a year anyway. Respondents in several polls have said they believe Somchai's Cabinet might last three months at best, so why bother worrying about it?

However, Somchai has risen to power at a time of political crisis. Society has become divided and some have lost faith in Parliament due to the alleged intervention of several interest groups. But instead of silencing his critics, Somchai appears to have proven them right.

Yesterday, the headlines of the leading papers said that Somchai's Cabinet line-up reflects a victory for the Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan factions of the People Power Party. The losers are those in Newin Chidchob's faction, which was one of the most powerful groups in the party prior to an internal power struggle in mid-September that saw Thaksin's faction rise against those who supported former prime minister Samak Sundaravej.

Unfortunately, while the business sector has managed to cope with the changing world, judging from Thai companies' ability to withstand the current US financial crisis, the Thai political system has hardly progressed. Politicians place a priority on how to reward their friends by handing over key economic ministries regardless of their abilities.

The most disappointing selections made were the picks for key economic portfolios. Critics not only question Suchart Thadathamrongvech's ability to steer the Thai economy through the current global financial crisis, but also the rationale behind the selection of Pracha Promnok as industry minister. Chalerm Yoobamrung is back in Cabinet, this time as public health minister. Santi Prompat is back to head the Transport Ministry, which will see him in charge of several investment projects.

Pornsilp Patcharintanakul, the deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said that the Somchai Cabinet was very similar to, or even worse than, that of the Samak government, as most of the ministers have been appointed following the quota system.

This unattractive Cabinet line-up left us wondering why we are unable to find capable people to run the ministries during this crucial time. Is the problem that more qualified, capable people are fed up with the system and the level of competency of existing politicians?

Now that the decision has been made and the Somchai government has pledged to fix the economy and reconcile the nation, we just hope that the administration lives up to that promise.

We are not expecting the new government to bring about any quick fixes. Thai society is only hoping that the situation does not get any worse. For instance, the government should think of the country's long-term interests instead of implementing short-term populist policies ahead of election season.

Besides, to boost reconciliation, the government should not disrupt several pending legal cases, which have been closely watched by society. The previous government was accused of serving as Thaksin's nominee. It would be hard for Somchai to isolate himself from Thaksin, his brother-in-law.

Somchai will not have a honeymoon period and he has to work harder than Samak did to prove that he is capable of being a good leader for our nation. Somchai's announcement of his Cabinet line-up was far from a promising start, but the country is still hoping for the best.