Incoming Thai PM to discuss cabinet posts on Monday

Incoming Thai PM to discuss cabinet posts on Monday
REUTERS

BANGKOK, FEB 4: Thailand's incoming Primeminister Thaksin Shinawatra said he would hold talks on Monday with the leaders of his two coalition partners over the allocation of 35 ministerial posts in the new government.

Thaksin, whose Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) Partyscored a runaway victory at the national polls on January 6, told a news conference on Sunday that the new list of cabinet members would be forwarded on February 15 for King Bhumibol Adulyadej's approval.

"The house will vote for (me to be) the Prime minister onFebruary 9 and I will present the cabinet list to His Majesty on February 15," Thaksin told reporters after his first official meeting with leaders of Chart Thai and New Aspiration Parties.

King Bhumibol is due later on Sunday to preside over anopening ceremony of the 500-member House of Representatives at a royal hall next to parliament.

Official results from the election were delayed for a monthby several rounds of re-elections.

The lower house of parliament is due on Monday to vote forits President and two deputies, which will be taken by representatives from the Thai Rak Thai, Chart Thai and NAP, respectively.

Thaksin has secured power by allying with NAP's formerPrime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Chart Thai's ex-premier Banharn Silpa-archa, which gives his government a comfortable majority of 325 seats in the lower house parliament.

Thaksin, sandwiched by Banharn and Chavalit at the newsconference, declined to name candidates for key economic ministerial posts, saying he would wait until outcome of Monday's meeting.

FORMER PM FOR DEFENCE POST

The telecoms-tycoon-turned-politician has made it clear hewill appoint candidates from his own party to most of the top cabinet posts, but may ask Chavalit, a former Thai Army Chief, to become Defence minister.

Thaksin's first major challenge as premier will be toconvince his coalition partners not to appoint politicians with tarnished images to be members of his cabinet.

Asked how he could overcome the hurdle, Thaksin said: "Iwill try to form a cabinet that can solve problems for the people."

Thaksin's own future is unclear following an indictment byThailand's anti-corruption watchdog, which has charged him with not declaring assets when he was a minister in the 1990s.

Thaksin has said he has done nothing wrong.

If the National Counter Corruption Commission's indictmentis confirmed by the Constitutional Court, the telecoms tycoon would be banned from politics for five years, forcing him to step down as Prime minister.

But analysts believe a ruling on Thaksin's case by thecourt is likely to take many months and may not be delivered for years.

Thaksin told reporters after the news conference that amonghis government's top priorities was to suspend construction of the country's new international airport in order to conduct a corruption probe.

"I have heard a lot of reports about corruption in thisproject...so we may have to suspend it for a short period for a thorough examination," he said.

The construction of the 120-billion-baht ($2.8 billion)Nong Ngu Hao airport's passenger terminal is expected to start by March 2001 in order for the project to be completed by 2004.

The controversial project, initiated by the government 40years ago, has been delayed by several obstacles including changes in passenger terminal design.