Democrat MPs and executives have finalised the nominations for cabinet ministerial and deputy ministerial posts in the new coalition government.
After it agreed to join the coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party, Thailand’s oldest party has been allocated eight cabinet seats — a deputy prime minister, three ministers and four deputies — for which it nominated seven members.
After a nine-hour meeting that ended at 10pm on Friday, Thai media reported that the party had voted to nominate leader Jurin Laksanavisit as deputy prime minister and commerce minister. Secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on was tipped to be agriculture minister, while veteran member Nipon Boonyamanee would be nominated minister of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
The four deputy ministerial positions in the party’s quota would go to former party-secretary-general and party-list MP Juti Krairiksh (Interior), party-list MP Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich (Education), Songkhla MP Thaworn Senneam (Transport) and Rayong MP Sathit Pitutecha (Public Health).
However, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will haver a final say on his cabinet ministers.
The new cabinet is expected to begin work either late this month or early next month. For now, the National Council for Peace and Order remains in charge of the country, with its top figures taking part in the Asean Summit that opens later this week in Bangkok and concludes on June 23.
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