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Thai PM-Apparent Says He Will Take Finance Portfolio If No One Dares
Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire politician apparently will be Thailand's next prime minister, said Tuesday that he would also take up the finance minister's post if "no one dares assuming the challenging post."
"Many prominent figures within my party are reluctant to steer the ministry, but I still have some candidates in my mind, " he told a press conference.
Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party ("Thai Loves Thai") won a landslide victory in Saturday's national election and is likely to take half of the 500 seats in the future House of Representatives, the lower chamber, paving the way for him to take the premiership.
Candidates for the finance portfolio needn't have to be a prominent figure, but must be not older than 60, he said.
He said the next finance minister would experience an "uphill task" as the country's revenue had dropped significantly.
"So, many able persons dare not sacrifice their fame for the job," he said.
However, there remains a lot of time to seek a strong candidate. But if no one really wants the job, he would take it by himself.
On the progress in the government formation, Thaksin said he was waiting for an official election result and that he would discuss the matter with the party executives when the number of successful candidates is officially confirmed.
He admitted the new coalition government would comprise at least two parties with the number of House seats between 320 and 373.
He reaffirmed all economic ministries would be put under his party's supervision.
Free to Choose Cabinet MembersThai prime minister-apparent Thaksin Shinawatra said on Tuesday he would not allow anyone to dictate his choice of cabinet members.
"I am under no pressure, and I am free to select my ministers," said the victorious leader of Thai Rak Thai ("Thai Rak Thai") Party on Nation TV Channel.
The remarks were made in response to reports that senior military officers had proposed the appointment of former army commander Thawal Saengphan, also a Thai Rak Thai candidate, as the defense minister.
Thaksin said he had not made up his mind on the defense portfolio.
"I will make my decision, in consultation with the party's executive committee, based on suitability and national interest. No one can pressure me to do anything," he said.
Other possible candidates for the post of defense minister include former army commander in chief Chettha Thanajaro and former defense permanent secretary Akradej Sasiprapa.
Meanwhile, he affirmed the party will control all the economic portfolios in the next cabinet for the "interest of the nation", and other coalition parties have no bargaining power on the matter.
New Aspiration and Chart Thai parties were tipped to be potential coalition partners of Thai Rak Thai, but their influence in the future government would be sidelined due to their poor performance in Saturday's national election.
According to the latest unofficial results, Thai Rak Thai swept 254 of 500 seats in the yet-to-be-formed House of Representative, the lower chamber, a majority no other parties have ever achieved before. Chart Thai and New Aspiration merely grabbed 39 and 34 seats.
Thai Rak Thai now expects to form a coalition of 320-373 parliamentary seats, which can empower the next government a firm control of Thai politics.
The failing Democrat Party, which led the current government, condemned the Thai Rak Thai's coalition plan, saying it will break the balance of the political mechanism in the parliament and aimed to wipe out any possible censure motion which needs the support of at least 200 lawmakers.
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