POST REPORTERS

Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra is shortlisting potential candidates for House Speaker and deputy posts,with caretaker Interior Minister Pokin Polakul reportedly on top of his list.

Among key party figures being considered for the speakership were Mr Pokin, Pongthep Thepkanchana, Chaturon Chaisaeng and Suchart Tancharoen, sources said yesterday.

Sutham Saengprathum and Suchart Tancharoen were being eyed for deputy posts, they said.

One source said Mr Thaksin preferred Mr Pokin to take charge of the lower house. He trusted Mr Pokin's legal expertise and moderator's skills to keep it in order, especially during chaotic floor protests.

The new House of Representatives is due to convene and pick its speaker and deputies on March 7.

On March 8, a new cabinet line-up will be proposed for the lower house's endorsement. The endorsed cabinet list is expected to be forwarded for His Majesty the King's approval on March 15, and the new government to make a policy statement before parliament around March 30-31.

The source said Mr Thaksin's new cabinet was likely to be a mix of new and familiar faces. Caretaker Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak would assume a key economic portfolio while Mingkhwan Saengsuwan, director of the Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand, could get the sports and tourism portfolio.

Mr Thaksin yesterday told the media not to jump to the conclusion the speakership would go to Wan Muhamad Nor Matha, the caretaker agriculture minister, who has held the post before.

The House speaker must have seniority and in-depth knowledge of parliamentary and legal affairs, and he was looking at several likely candidates, Mr Thaksin said.

Also, the nominee must be either a constituency or party-list MP.

Mr Thaksin said it was still premature to speculate on cabinet appointees but added that the economic team should consist of outsiders who were free of all political affiliations.

Among the names he had in mind for the finance portfolio were former central bank governor Chaiwat Wiboonsawat and former Thai Bankers' Association chairman Olarn Chaipravat, Mr Thaksin said.

But Mr Thaksin added that he was still wary that appointees from the banking circles could come up with of lop-sided economic policies.

As for security-related ministries, he had not decided yet whether the incumbent ministers should stay on.

Mr Thaksin conceded it was not easy to find ideal choices for the top cabinet posts and asked the media to help him in his search.