Tough screening process ahead of new cabinet formation: Phumtham

The new cabinet is not expected to be sworn for 2-3 weeks, because the secretary general of the cabinet needs time to screen every proposed minister carefully, said Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai.

All parties are required to submit their lists of proposed ministers by today to Dr Prommin Lertsuridej, who has been assigned to oversee the screening process with the secretary general of the cabinet.

Phumtham declined to comment on caretaker Agriculture minister Thammanat Prompao’s future, who was reported to have been excluded from the new cabinet, saying that it is an internal affair for the Palang Pracharath party.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said today that all coalition parties must accept the qualification standards for cabinet ministers, as set by the Constitutional Court and as manifested in its ruling against former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.

Srettha was ousted from his post after he was found guilty of ethical misconduct by appointing a convict, Phichit Chuenban, as PM Office minister.

Somsak said that the Constitutional Court’s ruling has set a precedent with which all political parties must comply, adding the tough screening process may affect some candidates, but is unlikely to lead to conflict between parties.

Phai Lik, Palang Pracharath MP for Kamphaeng Phet, said in his Facebook post last night that he and several other MPs will support and follow Thammanat Prompao, secretary-general of the party, after the party’s leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwan said Monday that Thammanat had been dropped from the list of nominees for cabinet posts.

Prawit said Thammanat will be replaced by Santi Promphat, the deputy leader.

Nonetheless, in the latest report today, Thammanat’s name has been included on the party’s list of proposed cabinet ministers, after he had a private conversation with party leader, General Prawit.

Other proposed ministers on the list include Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan as a deputy prime minister and minister for natural resources and environment, Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn as deputy agriculture minister and Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn as deputy public health minister.