Cabinet plan riles up critics

Cabinet plan riles up critics

Uttama denies PPRP economy job swipe

Palang Pracharath Party leader Uttama Savanayana
Palang Pracharath Party leader Uttama Savanayana

Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Uttama Savanayana on Thursday dismissed reports the party would keep all the cabinet economic portfolios, saying talks about forming a coalition government are preliminary.

Mr Uttama said he and party secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong were responsible for holding talks with other parties about setting up a government and it was too early to discuss the allocation of cabinet seats.

He was responding to reports that the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties, which have been widely speculated to the join the PPRP-led alliance, were not happy with the prospect of the PPRP grabbing all the economic seats.

Some reports claimed the Democrat and Bhumjaithai parties would be given six seats each in the cabinet, while the Chartthaipattana Party would get two.

"The talks haven't gone that far. It's a preliminary discussion because the Election Commission has only just endorsed the MPs," he said.

Mr Uttama said he was unaware of an alleged move by the Democrats to form a rival alliance with the Bhumjaithai Thai and Chartthaipattana parties if the PPRP takes all the economic posts.

However, he admitted economic issues would be among the top priorities when the division of tasks is up for talks within the PPRP and among potential coalition partners.

"The party takes economic issues seriously and we intend to drive forward our economic platforms, but we haven't discussed who will take charge at each ministry," he said.

The PPRP leader declined to say how many seats the PPRP-led alliance would muster or how many parties would join the camp, but noted that if possible he wanted to see negotiations about forming a coalition wrapped up this month.

A source in the Democrat Party said on Thursday the PPRP should not keep all the economic seats as it would affect public confidence in the coalition government.

According to the source, the military government has done a fairly poor job in economic management for low- and middle-income earners, reflected by an increase in the number of people registered with the government's welfare scheme.

If the PPRP refused to let other parties share the economic work, its coalition partners would not be able to fulfill their campaign promises, said the source.

However, the source said the party would not engage in any coalition government talks until after May 15 when it selects a new party leader and a new executive board.

Democrat MP for Trang Sathit Wongnongtoey on Thursday rejected reports that the party would be allocated six cabinet seats, saying the party had yet to decide on the matter.

He said it was likely the party, if it were to join a coalition government, would do so on its own terms. Moreover, two candidates vying for the party leadership post insisted that they would not take up any posts if the party decides to be part of the coalition, he said.

"So the report that the party will be given six seats is made up. The party has dignity and it doesn't just take what is offered," he said.

Nikorn Chamnong, director of the Chartthaipattana Party, said the 10 party MPs had yet to discuss the issue.

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Facebook that the party was "listening to the people's voice" and had not allocated cabinet seats.

While major political parties kept tight-lipped, a group of small parties which won one party-list seat each on Thursday pledged to join the PPRP-led alliance.

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