Yingluck Shinawatra has decided to oversee the Public Relations Department herself in a rare move by any prime minister, who normally assign a PM's office minister to control the agency in charge of the government's media outlets.
Computer monitors show the image of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as she chairs the cabinet meeting at the other end of the table on Tuesday. Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung was absent because he said he had a doctor's appointment. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The decision was announced after Tuesday's regular cabinet meeting by government deputy spokeswoman Sunisa Lertpakawat.
The prime minister also has appointed Surapong Tovichakchaikul first deputy prime minister overseeing the Foreign Ministry, Tourism and Sports Ministry, and Science and Technology Ministry.
Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan was appointed second deputy prime minister supervising the Commerce Ministry and Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry.
Pol Gen Pracha Promnok was appointed third deputy prime minister in charge of the centre for implementation of policies and strategies for solving problems in the southern border provinces, the Royal Thai Police Office and the Justice Ministry, Ms Sunisa said.
Pol Gen Pracha's assignment means he had fully taken over the job until recently filled by Chalerm Yubamrung, who was demoted to labour minister.
The prime minister concurrently holds the post of defence minister.
The Public Relations Department (PRD) is in charge of all state-run media, including National Broadcasting of Thailand (NBT), the Channel 11 television station.
The prime minister's decision is the second surprise for the department. The cabinet on June 4 appointed Buri Ram governor Apinan Chantharangsri director-general of the PRD, despite him having no experience in this field and having been being appointed by the Interior Ministry to the northeastern province less than a year ago.
Sources said Mr Apinan is close to key members of the Pheu Thai Party and leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship in the northeastern region.
All cabinet members except Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung attend Tuesday's meeting, the first since the "new look"' cabinet was sworn in on Sunday with several key changes.
Mr Chalerm had cited a doctor's appointment as a reason not to attend.
The outspoken minister aired his anger at his demotion from deputy prime minister to labour minister on Friday, and even challenged Ms Yingluck to drop him from the cabinet list. He accused Pol Col Thawee Sodsong, chief of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, of masterminding his ouster and pointing to disagreements over how to to end southern insurgency.
Mr Chalerm did not talk to reporters on Tuesday but one of his close aides, Anan Sriphan, an Udon Thani MP for Pheu Thai, confirmed that he will begin his new job at the ministry on Thursday. He dismissed reports that Mr Chalerm was thinking about leaving the cabinet for good.
Mr Chalerm was not satisfied with the transfer, but he would take on the new position, Mr Anan said. He would work at it for at least five months before deciding whether he was fitted for labour affairs.
The prime minister said the absence of Mr Chalerm was not a political decision and commended him for overseeing a key ministry.
"He went to see a doctor. Nothing else,'' Ms Yingluck said. "He was assigned to oversee an important ministry with details to work on in order to take better care of workers, which is one of the priorities of the government. The government needs somebody with ability to handle it,'' she added.
The prime minister tried to play down conflicts between Pol Col Thawee and Mr Chalerm, saying that the two had different views but that did not mean conflicts.
Ms Yingluck and all cabinet members on Tuesday took a pledge to clamp down on corruption and to work transparently.
She said the public woud be given all details of government procurements to ensure fairness. There would be training for officials and other personnel to better monitor all procurements and work with all anti-graft agencies. A panel including outsiders would be set up check on the transparency of budget funded projects.