28-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s newly appointed Cabinet, revealed on Sunday, includes six fresh members, with four of them hailing from the ruling coalition leader Pheu Thai Party. The newcomers to the Cabinet are Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, PM’s Office Ministers Jiraporn Sinthuprai and Pichit Chuenban, Deputy Agriculture Minister Attakorn Sirilattayakorn, and Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin.
Among the new appointments, Pichai, Paopoom, Jiraporn, and Pichit were selected under the Pheu Thai Party’s quota, while Attakorn was chosen under the Palang Pracharath Party’s quota, and Suchart under the United Thai Nation’s quota.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, born on February 15, 1949, brings extensive business experience to his role. He previously held prominent positions such as Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s board of directors, which he resigned from last week in anticipation of the Cabinet reshuffle. Pichai has also served on the Bank of Thailand’s board of directors and held the presidency of the Federation of Accounting Professions. Currently, he serves as the President of Bangchak Corporation Plc and advises the Board of Investment. Before joining the Cabinet, he acted as an economic adviser to the Prime Minister. Notably, Pichai played a crucial role as a defense witness in the trial of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2015-16, during the Supreme Court’s proceedings on the rice-pledging scheme.
Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, born on February 22, 1983, is regarded as a rising star within the Pheu Thai Party. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kasetsart University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, and both a master’s and a doctorate in economics from the University of Illinois in Chicago. Paopoom has been actively involved in economic affairs within the party since 2019, working as an aide to Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who maintains close ties with the Shinawatra family.
PM’s Office Minister Pichit Chuenban, a lawyer highly trusted by the Shinawatra family, brings a wealth of legal expertise to his new role. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from Ramkhamhaeng University, a master’s degree in law from Dhurakij Pundit University, a master’s degree in arts from Ramkhamhaeng University, and a doctorate in industrial business administration from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. Pichit has been involved in defending the family’s interests since the 2006 coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In the past, he faced a six-month imprisonment for attempting to bribe judges with 2 million baht in cash in a case related to Thaksin. During Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration, Pichit served as a member of a team responsible for reviewing draft legislation before its submission to the House. He also led Yingluck’s defense team during her trial in the rice-pledging case. Additionally, Pichit assumed the role of chief legal adviser for the Thai Raksa Chart Party, a secondary party formed by Pheu Thai in 2019, until its dissolution, after which he returned to Pheu Thai.
PM’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sinthuprai, born on September 1, 1987, is the eldest child of former Roi Et MP Nisit Sinthuprai. Her father was an executive of the now-defunct People Power Party and a former leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship. Jiraporn holds a bachelor’s degree in arts from Assumption University, a master’s degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University, and a master of science (international business) degree from the University of Reading in England. She gained prominence in the House for her vocal debates against the previous government led by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. Jiraporn, considered a young-blood politician, has contributed to enhancing Pheu Thai’s image and even has her own fan club.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Attakorn Sirilattayakorn, born on August 7, 1984, comes from a family with a political background. His father, Itthiporn Sirilattayakorn, a former deputy transport minister, was a member of the Group of 16. Attakorn earned a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from Bangkok University and a master’s degree in marketing management from Middlesex University in England. He joined the Pheu Thai Party in 2011 and became a party-list Member of Parliament. Prior to the 2019 election, he switched to the Palang Pracharath Party and was again elected as a party-list MP. During the previous government’s tenure, Attakorn served as a secretary to the coalition whips. He later became a member of the Palang Pracharath executive board and the party’s spokesperson.
Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin, born on July 15, 1974, holds an arts degree in management from Krirk University in Bangkok. Suchart belongs to the Chonburi faction of the former Palang Chon Party. However, when Palang Chon prepared to merge with Palang Pracharath in 2018, Suchart decided to form his own group instead. Upon becoming a Chonburi Member of Parliament under Palang Pracharath, he encountered significant conflicts with the Chonburi faction of the Kunploem family. With close ties to then-Prime Minister Prayut, Suchart was appointed as the labor minister in the Prayut government. When the United Thai Nation party was formed to nominate Prayut in the 2023 election, Suchart left Palang Pracharath to join United Thai Nation. Although he was elected as a party-list MP, his group did not emerge victorious against the Chonburi faction in the elections.
