On the morning of July 2, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungringreangkit began his term as Prime Minister by attending a ceremony in Bangkok to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the establishment of the Prime Minister's Office.
However, Suriya has only ruled Thailand for a short time since being appointed as interim prime minister, after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office by the Constitutional Court on July 1 to investigate the leak of her phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.
Power was immediately transferred to Mr. Suriya, 70 years old, on the same day, July 1. But Suriya's time as prime minister will be shortened due to a cabinet reform scheduled for July 3.
In the cabinet reform on July 3, the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Phumtham Wechayachai will replace Mr. Suriya as Prime Minister.
Thus, Mr. Suriya Jungringreangkit only led the country for 1 full day (2.7).
The ruling Pheu Thai Party said that Mr. Phumtham will take over the position of acting Prime Minister after the cabinet reform because he will be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister with a higher rank than Mr. Suriya in the successor line.
Meanwhile, Ms. Paetongtarn - who became the new Prime Minister of Thailand in August last year - has assigned herself the position of Minister of Culture in the new cabinet, meaning she will keep a position in the government.
