Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has approved the cabinet of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra , the Royal Gazette announced on September 4. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in in the coming days.
As the Thai government looks to boost the economy and address a host of other challenges, key cabinet positions remain unchanged, with Pichai Chunhavajira remaining as finance minister, Anutin Charnvirakul remaining as interior minister and Pirapan Salirathavibhaga remaining as energy minister. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa also retains his post.
“We see little change as the key coalition parties, including Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, retain key positions,” said Boonyakiat Karavekphan, a scholar at the Faculty of Political Science at Ramkhamhaeng University. Ms Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai is the largest party in the ruling coalition, while Bhumjaithai is the second largest group.
There have been some changes in Thailand’s cabinet, however. Prime Minister Paetongtarn has moved Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to head the Defense Ministry, signaling that the ruling party plans to increase its control over military and national security issues, Nikkei Asia said.
Ms. Paetongtarn, 38 years old, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected as Prime Minister of Thailand through the vote of the National Assembly on August 16. She succeeds Mr. Srettha Thavisin - who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court on August 14.
Several positions in Thailand's new cabinet were also given to members of the Democrat Party - the opposition party that has now joined the ruling coalition.
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on was appointed as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, while another key Democrat figure Dech-it Khaothong was appointed as Deputy Minister of Public Health.
Thailand’s new cabinet is expected to submit policy proposals to parliament as early as next week. Proposals include tweaks to Pheu Thai’s signature policy of transferring 10,000 baht ($292) in credit to 50 million Thais via a smartphone app, with some of it delivered in cash.
