Former PM claims that there will not be a cabinet reshuffle in the near future

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has offered an assurance that there will not be a cabinet reshuffle in the foreseeable future, as he dismissed speculation that Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, also leader of the United Thai Nation party, may be removed from the post.

He said he has known Pirapan for a long time, adding that he is a hardworking man. He also said that there are no reasons why the current government should not complete its term.

The former prime minister is currently in Chiang Rai province, to campaign for the Pheu Thai party’s candidate Salakjit Tiyapairat in the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) mayoral election, to be held in February.

He addressed party supporters in Thoeng, Chiang Khong and Mae Chan districts on Sunday.

At the rallies, he said he and Salakjit’s husband Yongyuth Tiyapairat, had worked together in founding and building the now defunct Thai Rak Thai party and that he had appointed the latter as the prime minister’s secretary general when he was prime minister over twenty years ago.

When Yongyuth’s wife decided to stand in the PAO election, he said he was obligated to lend a helping hand.

Meanwhile, he also told the audience that people who are over 60 will receive the 10,000 baht financial help, under the “digital wallet” scheme, on January 29th, as he told them of his determination to revive the economy, to improve the lives of the people and to explore means of enabling people to earn more.

The former prime minister claimed that the economic system, for which he advocated about two decades ago, has gone or has been abandoned, adding that, following his return home after his long self-imposed exile abroad, he intends to revive the economy, especially the grass root economy, by promoting handicrafts, skills development and agriculture.

He promised to slash the price of electricity, to about 3.70 baht per unit, and to reduce public debt within the next two years.

While being the father of the current Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin has no official role in the country’s administration, but is widely viewed as the unofficial but de-facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai party.