Seen at the meeting was Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham who was tipped for promotion as deputy prime minister for social affairs.

"Yes, I met with the prime minister to discuss the integrated implementation of social policies though I am not aware about any appointments," Paiboon said in a telephone interview with The Nation.

Paiboon said he only knew Surayud was trying to quickly complete the Cabinet reshuffle but he was not privy to the new lineup.

According to Government House officials, Surayud might elevate Paiboon to oversee duties now assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras who is slated to take charge of economic affairs in the wake of MR Pridiyathorn Devakula's resignation.

Education Minister Wijit Srisaan said all sides should respect the decision to shuffle the Cabinet once the prime minister made up his mind on the issue.

"The government has little time for its remaining term and it is not easy to recruit new ministers who have to abandon their career to join the Cabinet for such a brief period of time," Wijit said.

He said he was ready to welcome the new Cabinet, be it a major or a minor reshuffle.

In light of high public expectations, the government might be hastily judged as a disappointment, he said, quickly adding: But in order to be fair, not many things can be accomplished because of time constraints.

"I believe the public should judge the government for honesty and what it has done to set the country back on course with solid foundations for future administrations to build on," he said.

Democrat Party deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr said he viewed the planned Cabinet reshuffle as a secondary issue while the real priority was how to boost the public confidence.

He said the government should focus on four key tasks - restoration of democratic rule, economic revitalisation, quelling the southern violence and rooting out corruption.

On the political situation, he suggested for the government and the Election Commission to set a date for the general election in order to dispel doubts on the path back to democracy.

In regard to the economy, he said the new deputy prime minister for economic affairs should devote full attention on leading the dream team to shore up business confidence.

For the two remaining tasks, he said the government needed to show tangible accomplishments in restoring normalcy in the South and in fighting corruption.

The Nation