Deputy Interior Minister Sabeeda Thaised, daughter of esteemed Bhumjaithai member Chada Thaised, gracefully arrived at the Government House on Thursday, but not for the reasons you’d imagine. Cameras flashed and reporters buzzed as she underwent Covid-19 testing. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)
In an unexpected twist, two notable cabinet ministers from the Bhumjaithai Party found themselves at the mercy of a positive Covid-19 diagnosis right before their crucial oath-of-office ceremony scheduled with His Majesty the King on Friday. Deputy Interior Ministers Songsak Thongsri and Sabeeda Thaised were the unfortunate pair, with tests confirming their infections on Thursday. Their positive results mean they’ll miss the prestigious swearing-in at the Amporn Sathan Residential Hall within Dusit Palace, slated for 5 pm.
This turn of events necessitates a rescheduling of their oath-taking ceremony, which also implies their absence from an informal cabinet meeting focused on policy statements set for Saturday. The news created quite an uproar, leaving many pondering the political implications.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who himself dons the hat of the Interior Minister, stepped up to the plate. In a reassuring statement, he confirmed the test results and announced that he’d be assuming the responsibilities of the two deputy ministers until their health permits them to officially take their oaths. His quick response highlighted his leadership and crisis management skills.
Meanwhile, the government helmed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is racing against the clock to get their ducks in a row. The final touches are being made as she is poised to deliver her much-anticipated policy statement before parliament next Wednesday and Thursday. Can she keep the momentum going despite the unexpected hiccup? Only time will tell!
It’s incredible that something as mundane as a virus can throw political timelines into disarray. I hope Songsak and Sabeeda recover quickly!
Right? This virus is relentless. Why didn’t they have better precautions in place?
You’d think so, but even with precautions, there’s always a risk. But yes, maybe stricter protocols during such crucial times could help.
Blaming the victims doesn’t help. Covid protocols are not foolproof.
Anutin stepping up shows real leadership. Let’s see if Paetongtarn can maintain the momentum amidst this chaos.
Anutin better step up, considering how many controversies he’s already had to navigate!
It’s easy to praise someone for doing the bare minimum during a crisis. Leadership is more than just filling in!
Why is everyone acting like this is a big surprise? Politicians are people too; they can catch viruses just like us.
It’s more about the timing, Chris. These are important political moves that we’re all watching.
Timing or not, the reaction seems overblown. They’ll reschedule and life goes on.
Will this delay really impact the new government’s ability to deliver their policy statement? Seems like too much is being made of it.
In politics, timing is everything. Missing an oath-of-office ceremony can create ripples of uncertainty.
But shouldn’t a strong political team be able to handle such minor hiccups?
A crisis like this can really test a government’s ability to adapt. Let’s hope Paetongtarn has what it takes.
Hard to say, Ramesh. She’s still new to this level of pressure.
True, but fresh perspectives can sometimes bring out the best solutions.
This just shows how important public health is. Even high-ranking officials aren’t immune!
Public health is always critical, Linda. But how much can we keep locking down or applying restrictions?
It’s about balance. Being careless won’t help anyone.
The political implications of this are huge. Rescheduling such events is not trivial in a tightly packed political calendar.
It’s just like a domino effect, one thing goes wrong and the entire system starts to wobble.
I can’t believe they didn’t have a better backup plan for something like this. We should expect more from our leaders.
They should’ve been more careful. Allowing any risk at such a critical time is sheer negligence.
Ed, not everything can be controlled. Sometimes, things just happen.
True, Puneet, but with so much at stake, you’d hope for more foresight.
No matter how prepared you are, things can always go wrong. We just need to keep moving forward.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been impressive so far. A few logistical setbacks won’t slow her down!
Imagine missing such an important ceremony because of a virus. Life can be strange sometimes.
The real question is, how does this affect Bhumjaithai’s influence in the new government?
That’s a good point, Mira. Losing momentum can hurt their standing.
Exactly. Political capital can be fragile, and they need to manage it carefully.
Anutin Charnvirakul taking charge is a reassuring shift. Shows the party has a strong backbone.
If the government’s policy talk is delayed, it might actually work in their favor. Gives more time to refine their statements.
It’s times like these that reveal true leadership qualities. Let’s see if they’ll shine or crumble.
The focus should be on their recovery. Politics can wait.
Anyone else think this could be a convenient excuse to buy time amidst other possible complications?
Interesting how life keeps throwing unpredictable challenges. This should be a test of their adaptability.
Definitely, Anya. If they navigate this well, it could bolster their credibility.
The government needs to exhibit more resilience. Minor setbacks like these should not deter them.
Wonder how the international community views these hiccups. It may impact foreign diplomatic relations.
Never a dull moment in politics. Just shows how interconnected everything is – health, governance, and timing.
It’s not just a delay, it’s a crucial moment missed. Things might never be quite the same timing-wise.
Jelena, you’re being dramatic. They’ll reschedule and continue. No biggie.
Maybe, commonman. But in politics, little things can have big impacts.
Things like this remind us that humans are fragile and unpredictable. We should be more empathetic.
What matters now is how quickly they can adapt and get back on track. Leadership is all about handling crises efficiently.
Time to see if Paetongtarn and Anutin can collaborate closely to keep things steady.