"Mediocre" economic teams?

Given that the incoming Abhisit government will be a coalition of six parties, plus one indispensable faction, the political horse-trading has become inevitable and, in fact, dramatic.

For instance, the Friends of Newin faction will likely get two of the most important portfolios - interior and transport - even though it has only 23 out of the total 235 MPs backing the government.

The rewards are very generous because this faction, a breakaway group of the former ruling People Power Party, has made it possible for the Democrat Party to form the new government.

The Democrats pledged to retain all the Cabinet seats previously occupied by Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Chart Thai, Matchima Thipataya and Puea Pandin parties once they joined the new coalition.

As a result, only 16 of the 36 Cabinet seats will be controlled by the Democrat party, with Abhisit concurrently taking charge as head of the economic team.

Korn Chatikavanij, a deputy Democrat leader and former investment banker working for JP Morgan in Thailand, will become Finance Minister, while Kobsak Sabhavasu, another party member, will be Deputy PM for Economic Affairs.

Alongkorn Polbutr, another Democrat, will be Deputy Commerce Minister, though the commerce portfolio will be controlled by Pornthiva Nakasai of Bhum Jai Thai Party, set up recently to replace the disbanded Matchima Thipataya party.

Pornthiva, who has a background in the entertainment business, is not too well known in public, which has raised doubts as to whether she would be up to the job.

As for the Industry portfolio, Ranongrak Suwanchawee of Puea Pandin party is the top candidate.

Again, her previous track record at the Finance Ministry was unimpressive, making it highly unlikely that she would be able to do much to help boost the economy while holding the Industry portfolio.

Obviously, both commerce and industry portfolios are crucial to the performance of the new economic team as Thailand faces a sharp slowdown in exports due to the global economic recession.

The export sector, which usually grows at a double-digit rate, has been forecast to expand by only 0 to 5 per cent next year, while domestic consumption will remain weak due to increased unemployment and other negative factors.

Previously, there was speculation that Abhisit might tap Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, the chief of Unctad, to become head of his economic team.

Supachai, a former deputy premier and member of the Democrat Party, is widely recognised as being highly competent as an economics minister who would be able to integrate all economic and related policies to drive growth during this critical time.

Another qualified candidate for the commerce portfolio is Kiat Sitthi-amorn, a former head of the International Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. Kiat was previously the "shadow" Commerce Minister of the then-opposition Democrat party, but intense horse-trading appears to have dashed his prospects of being appointed to the crucial portfolio as this slot was already reserved for the former Matchima Thipataya party.

Another qualified candidate for commerce is Pramon Suthiwong, the chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, who has spent decades working in the private sector with emphasis on public policy co-ordination.

Unfortunately, these names - Supachai, Kiat and Pramon - aren't likely to make it to the first Abhisit Cabinet.