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Published on December 27, 2007

Samak Sundaravej would become prime minister, while Chalerm Yoobamrung would take the Interior post, Thanong Bidhaya will be finance minister, with Mingkwan Saeng-suwan as deputy prime minister or commerce minister.

Yongyuth Tiyapairat is tipped for Agriculture and General Ruengroj Mahasaranond as defence minister. Somchai Wongsawat will take Justice, Noppadol Pattama gets education and Surapong Suebwonglee will be health minister.

According to PPP sources, Panpree Phahithanukorn might be sports and tourism minister, while Somphong Amornwiwat or Jaruphong Ruengsuwan would take labour.

However, the contingency list is far from finalised, as it could be affected by quotas for its coalition partners.

The cabinet also depends on Election Commission rulings on ballot violations, if PPP suffers heavily and the balance of power shifts. The PPP wants to lock in the three small parties to ensure majority control.

Sources said if Samak was somehow prevented from becoming premier, the PPP would nominate Somchai Wongsawat. Somchai is a brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The House Speaker's job could go to Buri Ram powerbroker Chai Chidchob, as Newin Chidchob had specifically requested the prestigious post for his father.

Initially, it had thought of giving the defence portfolio to General Chettha Thanajaro, leader of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, but it feared it might not be able to "control" the military.

In the end, they opted to go for Ruengroj instead, who is a former supreme commander and a close ally of Thaksin.