Horse trading for Cabinet seats to complete next week

"The Cabinet should emerge next week as People Power deems it necessary to quickly finalise the formation of the new government," he said.

Party leader Samak Sundaravej and his secretary general Surawong Suebwonglee are in charge of ministerial appointments, he said.

He said there was no infighting for plum assignments and that his party already began to draft the guidelines in working with its coalition partners. He dismissed speculation that six coalition partners had reached an agreement on ministerial portfolios, saying that the negotiations had not even started.

MPelect Somchai Phaetprasert said MPs from the Northeast should be given a priority in the Cabinet lineup because they commanded a biggest block of votes in the House.

"Although the party executives are responsible for the allocation of ministerial portfolios, they should consider showing gratitude to Northeastern voters who helped People Power to achieve victory," he said.

MPelect Pracha Prasopdee from Samut Prakan said as People Power won all seven seats in his constituency, he and his colleagues would oppose any atteampts to nominate Puea Pandin Party chairman Vatana Asavahame and his aide Man Patthanothai as Cabinet members.

Vatana and Man claimed Samut Prakan as their political stronghold and fought many past elections with People Power rivals before an aboutturn to join the coalition alliance.

The Nation