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Published on January 17, 2008

A six-party coalition government is in the making with the People Power Party (PPP) dominating the Cabinet with 23 ministerial posts including that of the prime minister, PPP sources said yesterday.

The latest development came after the Puea Pandin Party confirmed yesterday it would join a PPP-led coalition and Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa told reporters he would unveil "good news" today at a press conference.

Both Puea Pandin and Chart Thai are middle-sized political parties. PPP would get 23 Cabinet seats while giving 13 others to its coalition partners, according to the sources.

In addition to the PM seat, the coalition leader would also get coveted portfolios like Interior, Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Tourism and Sport, as well as Justice, Energy, Public Health, and Natural Resources and Environ-ment.

Many of the PPP's Cabinet members will be those close or loyal to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Of the Cabinet seats to be allocated to smaller coalition partners, Chart Thai and Puea Pandin would each obtain four, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana and Matchima Thipataya would get two each, and Pracharaj one, the sources said.

While most other Cabinet seats would be filled with senior PPP figures, no candidates for finance minister have emerged as the experts approached have turned down the offer, according to the sources.

PPP key figure Chalerm Yoo-bamrung would become interior minister and Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law, would be justice minister, said the sources.

Party secretary-general Surapong Suebwonglee would get either public health or the ICT portfolio; PPP deputy leader General Ruengroj Mahasaranond would become deputy PM in charge of security affairs; another deputy leader Mingkwan Sangsuwan was likely to become minister of commerce or tourism, or a deputy PM in charge of economic affairs.

As for the defence minister's seat, former Army chief Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and ACM Kongsak Wanthana, who served as interior minister in Thaksin's government, are among the leading candidates, according to the sources.

Noppadon Pattama, PPP deputy secretary-general and legal adviser to Thaksin's family, would "definitely get a deputy minister's seat", one of the sources said.

The PPP was likely to nominate deputy leader Sompong Amornwiwat as speaker of the House of Representatives, contrary to earlier speculation that embattled deputy leader Yongyuth Tiyapairat was the leading candidate, said the sources.

Yesterday was the first time that Puea Pandin officially announced that it would join a PPP-led coalition. Earlier, key members could not agree whether to join.

Puea Pandin leader Suwit Khunkitti said after the party executive meeting yesterday that his party had agreed to join the PPP-led coalition. "I will inform the Chart Thai Party in order to plan a joint announcement to formally seal the coalition deal," he said.

However, Chart Thai leader Banharn did not confirm a joint announcement but said he would hold a press conference tonight. "What I can tell you now is that it's good news. I will tell you in a press conference at Park Nailert Hotel at 8pm," he told reporters.

At the Puea Pandin meeting yesterday, executives and ranking members present included party chairman Vatana Asavahame, chief adviser Pracha Phromnok and secretary-general Vachara Phanchet.

Suwit did not say he would support PPP leader Samak Sundaravej as prime minister. "This issue will be discussed with other coalition parties," he said.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaigarn said endorsement of 456 of 480 House seats to enable Parliament to sit would be finished before Monday's deadline.

Kesinee Jaikawang,

Samatcha Hunsara,

Suphon Thanukrit

The Nation