Yingluck rules out Cabinet reshuffle this month
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Wednesday that she will not reshuffle her Cabinet this month because her ministers are in the process of reporting on their performance to the public.
"It's not time yet, as all ministries are announcing their achievements," Yingluck replied when reporters asked whether she would change the Cabinet lineup this month.
The government has each minister announce his or her achievements one ministry at a time. The government has yet to set a schedule for reporting its work to Parliament on the occasion of the first anniversary as required by the Constitution.
Yingluck sidestepped questions as to whether she would remove Finance Minister Kittirat NaRanong and Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwannathat. Reporters reminded her that Kittirat had publicly admitted that he told lies to investors about export projections and Sukumpol had conflicts with the permanent secretary for defence.
"A Cabinet reshuffle will be done for the sake of appropriateness in running the country," Yingluck replied.
She said she has been monitoring the performance of all ministers but has not yet evaluated their performance.
She declined to say which ministries would be targets for changes. She said all ministries have been doing their duty to the best of their abilities.
"I would like to ask the public to give more time to the Cabinet because the work to solve problems and develop the country could not be done in one year," Yingluck said.
When reporters tried to press for answers about a Cabinet reshuffle, Yingluck said, "No new questions. Reporters have no new questions," and abruptly left.
-- The Nation 2012-08-29
