Yingluck denies approaching outsiders

The Pheu Thai Party had not yet offered any outsider a seat on the incoming government's cabinet, prime minister-in-waiting Yingluck Shinawatra said on Tuesday.

Prime minister-in-waiting Yingluck Shinawatra (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)

Ms Yingluck was responding to reports that her party had invited Vichit Surapongchai, executive chairman of the Siam Commercial Bank, to lead the economic team in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government.

The reports said Mr Vichit would be deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister.

"No decisions have been made at this time on the final cabinet lineup, but approaching outsiders is an option," she said.

The youngest sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin said the selection of cabinet members will be decided by the party's executive members, based on the capability and suitability of the nominees, including competent outsiders.

She insisted that the selection would not be a benefit sharing process, or reciprocation for political faction support inside the Pheu Thai Party, as has been suggested.

Ms Yingluck said the formation of the cabinet would not be completed this month. Her party and the other coalition partners would wait until the Election Commission had endorsed at least 95 per cent (475) of the 500 MPs.

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond yesterday reaffirmed that the EC could endorse the required 95 per cent of MPs this week.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said a meeting of the party's executive has passed a resolution giving the authority to select the new speaker of the House of Representatives to Ms Yingluck and party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit.

Mr Prompong said the selection of the new House speaker, who is also ex-officio parliament president, will be jointly decided by Ms Yingluck and Mr Yongyuth within the next week.

He said the meeting also gave them final authority in selecting individuals for other political positions such as deputy House speaker, chairs of various parliamentary committees and the panel members, cabinet ministers and advisers to ministers.

Ms Yingluck and Mr Yongyuth were both appointed the party's representatives for coordinating with other coalition partners, the spokesman added.

Democrat Party member and outgoing Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Outgoing Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the next financial minister should not be an outsider because non-MPs might not truly understand the people's problems and the economic policies might not be sustainable.

"The new finance minister should have a good knowledge of financial and monetary issues as well as macro and micro economics.

"The public must be able to rely on and have confidence in the person.

"The new finance minister has to work honestly and transparently, maintains financial discipline, is ready to speak the truth for the best interests of the country and have enough standing to be able to halt some projects," Mr Korn said.

He said the next government should not only be immersed in macroeconomic figures, as this would not solve cost of living problems.

The state sector would likely collect about 100 billion baht in revenue for fiscal year 2012, giving the next government to more money to spend, he said.

"I hope the new government under the Pheu Thai Party will maintain financial discipline and keep the budget deficit at 350 billion baht," the Democrat Party key member said.

Posted in: news