There will be only four changes in the new cabinet line-up and the reshuffle should be completed by the end of this week, Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.
Mr Abhisit said Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnvirakul told him at the cabinet meeting that he will need about two more days to find the right person to succeed Manit Nopamornbodee as the new deputy public health minister.
Mr Manit resigned as deputy public health minister on Sunday to take political responsibility for alleged irregularities in the ministry's projects financed by the government's 86-billion-baht economic stimulus scheme, but claimed he was not involved in the scandal.
"It is up to the Bhumjaithai Party [to nominate Mr Manit's successor] and I do not want to comment on this issue," the prime minister said.
On the decision to have Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit take over the public health minister's post following the resignation of Witthaya Kaewparadai, Mr Abhisit said he was confident Mr Jurin could solve the problems in the Public Health Ministry. He also believed government chief whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiat can lead the Education Ministry without any problems.
The premier said he had assigned all cabinet members to report their work-related problems and achievements so they can improve their performances in the government's second year in office.
Mr Chavarat said his party would likely submit the name of the new deputy public health minister within a couple of days.
Bhumjaithai's Matchima faction leader Somsak Thepsuthin had not named a candidate yet, he said.
The Bhumjaithai Party earlier planned to propose Prasart Thongpaknam, an assistant secretary to the public health minister, but the decision was reversed after the nomination was opposed by the Rural Doctors' Society, which claims he was linked to alleged irregularities involving the ministry's economic stimulus projects.
Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit called on the prime minister to consider the public benefit and appoint a suitably qualified person to be the new deputy public health minister.
The Bhumjaithai Party, which has the quota for this position, has not nominated anyone to the premier.
"This shows that the upcoming reshuffle is for the benefit of some particular groups in the government," the opposition speaker said.
Mr Abhisit should appoint a person with capability to solve alleged corruption problems in the Public Health Ministry, he said.
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