5-9-2023 (BANGKOK) In a ceremony held at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok on Tuesday (Sep 5), Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn administered the oath of office to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and 33 cabinet ministers, marking the inauguration of a coalition government comprised of 11 parties.
Srettha Thavisin, whose Pheu Thai party leads the coalition, along with his cabinet ministers, affirmed their allegiance to the monarchy during the solemn event.
This appointment as prime minister came on August 22, following weeks of delay caused by disagreements over the composition of the coalition government led by the Move Forward party, which secured the most seats in the May polls.
The government is set to present its policy statement to parliament on Monday.
Srettha Thavisin, a 61-year-old billionaire educated in the United States and a former president of luxury property developer Sansiri, outlined the priorities of his administration in a televised address after being sworn in. He emphasized that his government is committed to addressing the needs of the people.
“This government is a people’s government… we are all here as representatives of the people,” he declared. “There are many problems, so we will work tirelessly every day… we will address the demands of the people. I believe it is time that we should pull together and give this Cabinet a chance to start working on all issues, whether it is economics, social, or political.”
Srettha Thavisin’s Cabinet draws members from six parties within Pheu Thai’s 11-party coalition. Notably, it includes several ministers who previously served in the government of Prayuth Chan-o-cha. For instance, Anutin Charnvirakul, who played a key role in the decriminalization of cannabis while serving as the public health minister, has been appointed as the Interior Minister.
Another returning figure is Thammanat Prompao, who served as deputy agriculture minister despite a 1994 conviction and imprisonment in Australia related to heroin smuggling. He now assumes the role of agriculture minister.
Pheu Thai has affirmed that the coalition members support the party’s economic agenda, which includes increasing the minimum wage and other measures to boost the economy. They also stand behind the maintenance of medical marijuana legalization and the pursuit of constitutional amendments to enhance the country’s democratic framework.
However, there are no plans to amend the law concerning royal defamation, a reform staunchly opposed by Thailand’s conservative ruling elite.
Srettha Thavisin, who also holds the position of finance minister, announced his intention to convene a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Additionally, he plans to visit the northeastern provinces of Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and Nongkhai on Friday to engage with local communities and gain insights into their concerns and issues.
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