Royal endorsement sought for new Cabinet list, Wissanu says
The list of Cabinet members in the incoming government has been submitted for royal endorsement, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam disclosed on Friday.
Wissanu declined to give further details, saying that any media questions regarding the matter should be directed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has the legal authority to seek royal endorsement for the Cabinet.
“You should wait for the prime minister to answer questions about this,” he told the media.
Wissanu, who is in charge of the outgoing government’s legal affairs, said that following a royal endorsement, the government would seek an audience with His Majesty the King for the new Cabinet members to take an oath. The process is required by law before a new Cabinet can start working officially.
Wissanu was speaking after presiding over the opening of Thailand Social Expo 2019 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.
He refused to answer a question of whether new government ministers in the submitted list were the same as those in the list reported by the media in recent days. Also, Wissanu declined to answer a question of whether he would serve in the same position in the new Cabinet.
General Prayut will also head the incoming administration, a coalition consisting of 19 political parties and being led by the Phalang Pracharat Party.
An unconfirmed list of new Cabinet members has been circulating among media outlets since Wednesday. The list includes many high-profile members of the present caretaker Cabinet, with some members taking on new portfolios, including Somkid and Prawit.
