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Fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is likely to be appointed Thailand's "trade ambassador" in a government led by his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, a source from the Pheu Thai Party said yesterday.
The appointment is expected to be made after the formation of a Cabinet, according to the source.
Thanks to his good ties with leading business and political figures in many countries, plus his wide experience, Thaksin could prove helpful to a new government in promoting Thailand's interests in trade talks, the source said.
"In this position, he does not need to be directly involved with politics. He also will have the opportunity to travel freely to many countries," the source added.
Thaksin's legal adviser, Noppadon Pattama, said yesterday that he believed the ex-premier would be pleased with such an appointment.
"It is up to the [next] prime minister, and whether she is brave enough to appoint her brother to help with her government duties," Noppadon said, referring to Yingluck.
He added that a trade ambassador was not a political position and the officeholder would have no legal power.
"If he is appointed, I believe he will be happy. He can travel to different countries by using a passport issued [previously] by Montenegro," said Noppadon, who once served as foreign minister in a Thaksin-proxy government.
After it became clear that Pheu Thai had won Sunday's general election, Thaksin phoned leaders of the smaller political parties expected to join a new coalition, including Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin and Palang Chon, according to a source from one of the parties.
"The final decision [on the allocation of Cabinet posts] rests with Thaksin alone," said a source from Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, adding that Thaksin had not responded to the party's request for the energy minister's seat for its leader Wannarat Charnnukul, who is serving in the same portfolio in the outgoing government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The source said that due to Pheu Thai's having won a clear majority in the House of Representatives, Thaksin certainly had the upper hand in negotiations about the sharing of Cabinet seats with the smaller coalition partners.
"We will just have to pick what we consider best among the choices Thaksin offers us," the source added.
Another source from Chart Pattana Puea Pandin said Thaksin had called banned politician Suwat Liptapanlop, who is the party's de-facto leader, to talk about Cabinet posts.
Thaksin wants the party to offer one of the two Cabinet seats it would get to a faction led by Pinij Charusombat and Preecha Laohapongchana, according to the source.
Within Pheu Thai, its different factions are lobbying heavily for Cabinet seats with Thaksin and his close relatives, such as his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat and her husband, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, a Pheu Thai source said.
Veteran politician Chalerm Yoobamrung is expected to be nominated the new House Speaker, but his faction wants him to become a Cabinet member instead. http://www.nation...59584.html
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Yingluck: No job for Thaksin
Prime minister-to-be Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday rejected as baseless reports that her elder brother, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin, would be made trade envoy.
Ms Yingluck said she has no thought of giving such job to Thaksin, as was reported by the media.
She also said the new defence minister must be a person able to work well with the armed forces.
Thaksin's youngest sister said ministers overseeing economic matters will be selected from members of the Pheu Thai Party first, but capable outsiders could also become economic ministers if they were suitable for the job, she added.
Ms Yingluck will later today meet with her party’s economic team to draft economic policies for the new coalition government.
She insisted that the policies publicised during the pre-election campaigns will certainly be implemented.
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