The rumor mill is awhirl as it appears Pheu Thai Party, one of Thailand’s prominent political factions led by Mr. Srettha, plans on putting forward one of its top-ranking members for an influential Defence Minister role. The long-standing party intends to nominate Sutin Klungsang, who holds significant clout as both a party-list MP and chief whip, for the key defence portfolio, according to early insider reports.
However, perceived opposition from the military could compel Pheu Thai to revise their strategy. The party might need to look for a wholly new candidate, potentially an outsider, to compete for the Defence Minister’s position. This maneuver would require the careful calibration of the party’s nominated members to governmental posts, considering the preset quota for such nominations. In this case, it may mean that a currently designated minister or deputy minister position within the party might be on the chopping block.
Speculation is rife that Pheu Thai’s Deputy Leader, Choosak Sirinin, might suffer the hit. Despite being a contender for the position of Deputy Prime Minister overseeing legal affairs should the party surge to power, Sirinin might become a potential scapegoat to safeguard the overall party calculus.
Further conjecture hints that General Natthapon Nakpanich, the erstwhile Secretary-General of the National Security Council, could be the dark horse in this race. Known widely by the moniker “Big Lek”, his nod for the Defence Minister’s role might be seen as a neutral gesture. Notably, he is not from the Pheu Thai fold.
Natthapon Nakpanich’s credentials are impressive. Hailed by the serving Prime Minister and former Defence Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as a prime contender to lead the military in the new administration, Nakpanich is a potential game-changer in the evolving political landscape of Thailand.
Pheu Thai has already submitted its initial Cabinet lineup for reviewing to the Cabinet Secretariat. Meanwhile, the future Prime Minister has hinted that the newly-minted Cabinet would be ready to take charge of the nation’s affairs by mid-September. It will be captivating to see how this political chess game unfolds, with various key players vying for supremacy and strategizing their next moves.
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