Details of the expected cabinet shake-up were released at the very end of the working week. There wasn't even an announcement, just the bare details of the Prayut Chan-o-cha 5 government, carried in the Royal Gazette. The reshuffle includes only a few new faces and departures, although it does reduce the number of military men from 12 to nine.
The chief focus of the changes among the 42 cabinet seats was how the new line-up will affect the economy. The answer seems to be "not much". The main post in particular is unchanged, with the so-called economy tsar, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, staying in place. So, too, does Apisak Tantivorawong, the Minister of Finance. So, few, if any, major changes seem likely from a government claiming it is extremely pleased with its current economic performance.
Two positions were changed that are doubly important to both the economy and the government's image. Apiradi Tantraporn has been replaced as the Minister of Commerce by her former deputy, Sontirat Sontijirawong. Meanwhile, Gen Prayut has brought in Weerasak Kowsurat as Minister of Tourism and Sports, replacing one of his original appointees in the immediate aftermath of the May 22, 2014, coup, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
These changes must be considered the major surprises. In an economy that is far from stable, foreign trade and tourism are the only two categories making sensational advances. The reasons for the departures of Ms Apiradi and Ms Kobkarn will soon be known. But it also is worth noting that Gen Prayut heads a pro-military government staffed and directed at the very top exclusively by military men. The departure of these two extremely high-performing women at one stroke will be noticed by many.
The new minister of commerce can be expected to continue with the unarguably winning policies of his former boss. Ms Apiradi took over a position that was losing income and prestige and turned it around, fabulously. Exports this year expanded by some 10%. This is all the more remarkable given that the baht keeps gaining value. The old saw has it that exports drop automatically when the value of the currency rises. Ms Apiradi proved that to be a myth.
Weerasak Kowsurat may be the most experienced person in the country at the highest levels of the tourist industry. On the surface, bringing him into the cabinet to replace Ms Kobkarn appears brilliant. He was Minister of Tourism under Somchai Wongsawat, Thaksin's brother-in-law who served as premier in 2008. A Chart Thai and Chartthaipattana Party loyalist, he has served in political posts as far back as the era of ex-premier Banharn Silpa-archa in the mid-1990s. He has also been a major lobbyist for tourism interests as head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and several other top private-industry posts.
Ironically, Mr Weerasak's appointment was announced on the ninth anniversary of the most painful moment of his life in public service -- the seizure of Bangkok's airports by yellow-shirt demonstrators who stranded thousands of Thai and foreign tourists, all of whom became Mr Weerasak's responsibility. On paper, then, he should even be able to outperform Ms Kobkarn, whose low-profile performance was exemplary.
A notable but puzzling addition to the cabinet is Pailin Chuchottaworn. He served as chief executive of PTT Plc from 2011-2015, and has been applauded around the world for turning that oil giant into a Tagnoc -- technologically advanced and green national oil company. Gen Prayut appointed him not as minister of energy, not as head of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, as you might expect. He is to be deputy minister of transport. This is just one of several puzzling issues of the Prayut 5 government.
