BANGKOK – Thailand’s newly appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on September 2 that the final selections for her Cabinet have been made and are expected to receive royal endorsement within the week.
The formation of the new government is anticipated to be completed by mid-September, according to senior officials from her caretaker administration. The new Cabinet is likely to maintain the current finance and foreign ministers while introducing 11 new ministers and deputy ministers, as reported by local media citing unnamed sources.
Mr. Sorawong Thienthong, the secretary-general of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, indicated that the new government would have slightly more parliamentary seats than its predecessor, though he declined to comment on the specific composition of the Cabinet.
This development comes after the abrupt removal of Mr. Srettha Thavisin from the prime ministerial office less than a month ago due to a court order. In the wake of his ousting, the Pheu Thai Party quickly rallied behind its leader, Ms. Paetongtarn, who was subsequently selected as Thailand’s prime minister by Parliament.
At 38, Ms. Paetongtarn is Thailand’s youngest premier, and she is the second woman and the fourth member of her billionaire family to hold the position. She is the daughter of the influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who continues to be a significant figure within the party.
In a notable shift, the new government has excluded the military-aligned Palang Pracharath Party from its coalition and has instead brought in its long-standing rival, the Democrat Party, to join the ruling coalition. This move marks a significant realignment in Thai politics as the new administration prepares to take the reins.