NEWS THINK
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul is taking charge of the Foreign Ministry while Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decides who should replace Tej Bunnag.
Mr Tej reluctantly took over as foreign minister following Noppadon Pattama's resignation from the post after criticism of his mishandling the Preah Vihear temple issue.
Foreign Ministry officials said Mr Sahas has been doing fine, especially since he took over the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) from Singapore last July.
Mr Tej resigned on Wednesday, one day after his secretary Poksak Nilubol quit.
We might not see any appropriate choice for Mr Tej's replacement at all, given that Mr Samak is busy defending his embattled government. A Western ambassador, who asked for anonymity, said he hoped Thailand's political turmoil would settle soon.
"I have already seen five foreign ministers come and go during my time, starting with Surakiart Sathirathai. We now can only hope that Thailand will quickly climb out of this slump," he said.
Two immediate tasks for the new minister are the pending talks with Phnom Penh over boundary demarcation, and preparations for the next Asean summit.
Mr Tej promised his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong that they would meet next month to discuss the border dispute further.
Thailand must also make preparations to host the next Asean summit in December.
Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan has lobbied the House and Senate speakers to give full support to Thailand's chairmanship of Asean.
"Thailand's role in Asean is important because we need to reassure Asean member states that we are doing everything necessary to support Asean community-building efforts," Mr Surin said.
The political crisis has also delayed attempts in parliament to pass an interim agreement on boundary talks with Cambodia.
The new foreign minister has a busy few months ahead of him, even assuming the government's political troubles ease.
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