The cabinet reshuffle could help halt falling public support for the government, after several polls showed its popularity has been declining, Thanavath Ponwichai, director of the Economic and Business Forecasting Centre at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said on Thursday.
Mr Thanavath said the government has shown little continuity in its stimulus policy, because the rice pledging scheme and 300 baht daily minimum wage initiatives will only provide a short-term spur for the economy.
The new cabinet ministers must make economic policy a top priority, he said, warning that if they fail to resolve economic problems in three months, there is a possibility that the House of Representatives could be dissolved to pave the way for a general election by the end of this year.
He added that the image of new cabinet members is important, because people need to have confidence in their ability to do their jobs, particularly those overseeing finance, commerce and other economic ministries.
The director said the persons who take on the posts of finance and commerce ministers will play crucial roles in mobilising the economy.
Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, and PM’s Office Ministers Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal and Varathep Rattanakorn have performed their duties well, he said, adding that he believed confidence in the government should be able to be restored.