Srettha’s Cabinet sees six new faces, while four ministers shown the exit
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has inducted six new members in his Cabinet, while four ministers make their exit in a Cabinet reshuffle late on Friday, according to a source.
The Secretariat of the Cabinet on Friday approved the updated list of Cabinet members, signed by the prime minister, which will be sent to His Majesty the King for royal endorsement, a news source from Government House said.
Proving correct rumours that had been doing the rounds for the past few weeks, Pichai Chunhavajira has been named as deputy prime minister and finance minister, relieving Srettha of that portfolio.
The source said the government’s first Cabinet reshuffle after eight months in office will see four Cabinet members being removed from their positions. They are Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, PM’s Office Minister Puangpetch Chunla-ead, and two deputy agriculture ministers, Chaiya Promma and Anucha Nakasai.
Besides Pichai, the other new members of Cabinet are: Pichit Chuenban as PM’s office minister, Paopoom Rojanasakul as deputy finance minister, Suchart Chomklin as deputy commerce minister, while Jiraporn Sindhuprai and Atthakorn Sirilattyakorn have been nominated as deputy agriculture and cooperatives ministers.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol and Culture Minister Sermsak Pongpanich will swap portfolios, reportedly to improve work efficiency in boosting soft power as an economic driver, which is one of the government’s main policies.
Deputy PM Somsak Thepsutin has been named as public health minister, while Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit will double as deputy prime minister in place of Somsak.
Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara will give up his additional designation as deputy prime minister, the source added.
