ID :
12141
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 11:18
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http://m.oananews.org//node/12141
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Thai PM won't dissolve House; Cabinet reshuffle imminent
BANGKOK, July 11 (TNA) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will by no means dissolve the House of Representatives or resign as head of government amid political storms hitting his five-month-old administration, Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said Thursday.
However, a cabinet reshuffle is considered very likely following the resignation of Noppadon Pattama as foreign minister and removal of Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap Mr. Noppadon's resignation came two days after the Constitution Court ruled that his signing a joint document backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by the Thai parliament was in breach of the country's supremelaw.
The Constitution Court had already removed health minister Chaiya Sasomsup from office after ruling on Wednesday that he had violated the constitution by failing to disclose his wife's shareholding in excess of five per cent in a private company within 30 days of taking up his post inFebruary.
Determined to carry out his government policies to cure economic challenges and retain investor confidence in the country's economic potential, the premier had chosen to stay on in power and to reject the idea to dissolve the House of Representatives as earlier speculated, thedeputy premier said.
Trade, investment climate and national development schemes would certainly come to a halt, should the premier decide to dissolve the House ofRepresentatives, Mr. Surapong said.
Meanwhile, the premier will likely reshuffle his cabinet to replace Mr.
Chaiya and Mr. Noppadon as public health minister and foreign ministerrespectively.
Other current members of cabinet will likely switch portfolios in acabinet line-up expected shortly.
Mr. Surapong said new faces to join a new Samak cabinet would hopefully restore confidence of the investors, especially international players, whoremain sensitive and doubt the future as political crises occur.
The government's mega-projects and other economic boosting schemes will be implemented as planned in a bid to help low-income earners cope with thegreatly rising costs of living and economic troubles.
As leader of the ruling People Power Party, Mr. Samak chaired a special meeting of his MPs at party headquarters where a few hundred people showed up with bouquets to express their support for the premier and hiscolleagues.
The prime minister declined to comment on today's political crisis, further complicating life for his beleaguered administration, and told reporters to wait to learn his views during his Samak Talk on Sunday TVprogramme.
Mr. Surapong added that it is yet too soon to say if he himself might lose his ministerial post in the face of government lottery-mishandling charges, because it remains to be seen whether or not the court would accept them in the first place. (TNA)
However, a cabinet reshuffle is considered very likely following the resignation of Noppadon Pattama as foreign minister and removal of Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap Mr. Noppadon's resignation came two days after the Constitution Court ruled that his signing a joint document backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by the Thai parliament was in breach of the country's supremelaw.
The Constitution Court had already removed health minister Chaiya Sasomsup from office after ruling on Wednesday that he had violated the constitution by failing to disclose his wife's shareholding in excess of five per cent in a private company within 30 days of taking up his post inFebruary.
Determined to carry out his government policies to cure economic challenges and retain investor confidence in the country's economic potential, the premier had chosen to stay on in power and to reject the idea to dissolve the House of Representatives as earlier speculated, thedeputy premier said.
Trade, investment climate and national development schemes would certainly come to a halt, should the premier decide to dissolve the House ofRepresentatives, Mr. Surapong said.
Meanwhile, the premier will likely reshuffle his cabinet to replace Mr.
Chaiya and Mr. Noppadon as public health minister and foreign ministerrespectively.
Other current members of cabinet will likely switch portfolios in acabinet line-up expected shortly.
Mr. Surapong said new faces to join a new Samak cabinet would hopefully restore confidence of the investors, especially international players, whoremain sensitive and doubt the future as political crises occur.
The government's mega-projects and other economic boosting schemes will be implemented as planned in a bid to help low-income earners cope with thegreatly rising costs of living and economic troubles.
As leader of the ruling People Power Party, Mr. Samak chaired a special meeting of his MPs at party headquarters where a few hundred people showed up with bouquets to express their support for the premier and hiscolleagues.
The prime minister declined to comment on today's political crisis, further complicating life for his beleaguered administration, and told reporters to wait to learn his views during his Samak Talk on Sunday TVprogramme.
Mr. Surapong added that it is yet too soon to say if he himself might lose his ministerial post in the face of government lottery-mishandling charges, because it remains to be seen whether or not the court would accept them in the first place. (TNA)
