Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, beset by violence in the Muslim south, graft scandals and economic woes that have eroded his support less than five months into a new term, reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday.
The reshuffle involved 17 portfolios, which included swaps of seats among current ministers and appointments of four new members, according to a copy of a royal appointment given to reporters on Tuesday.
Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the transport minister who survived a censure vote over alleged graft in the purchase of bomb scanners for Bangkok's new airport, was made Industry Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, despite pressure on Thaksin to sack him.
Analysts said the wealthy Suriya - a key man in the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party and dubbed "the party purse" by newspapers - had to stay because Thaksin did not want to upset Suriya's faction or give credit to opposition allegations of corruption.
"Sacking Suriya, who is the party's secretary-general, would produce severe disunity within the Thai Rak Thai," said political analyst Prayad Hongtongkhum.
Thaksin, whose "Thais Love Thais" party is riven by internal feuding, said the reshuffle was aimed at boosting efficiency.
But with the economy set to grow at its slowest in four years, due mainly to high oil prices and Thai wallets growing lighter by the day, Thaksin switched economic ministers.
Somkid Jatusripitak, formerly the Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister who has said he wants to continue supervising the economy, was made Commerce Minister. He will keep his job as the economic czar, the statement said.
Thanong Bidaya, leaves as Commerce Minister to replace Somkid as Finance Minister - the job he had when Thailand devalued the baht in July, 1997, setting off the Asian economic crisis.
Air Force Commander Kongsak Wantana, who married a close friend of Thaksin's wife recently and retired from the military on Monday, was appointed Interior Minister.
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