New-look cabinet to set policy agenda

PM to direct meeting on Saturday to fine-tune new government’s plan speech

(Bangkok Post File Photo)
( Bangkok Post File Photo )

The newly appointed government, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is expected to hold a special appointment on Saturday to create a policy speech outlining the government’s goals.

The official record of 35 officials was released in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, along with the approval of His Majesty the King, and the government has been approved. At 5 p.m. on Friday, Ms. Paetongtarn and the officials are scheduled to take the oath of office at Ambara Villa in Dusit Palace.

Before beginning job, the government must first present its policy speech to parliament. The first official case meeting is scheduled for September 17 and Ms. Paetongtarn will be expected to deliver the statement on September 11. She will formally begin her duties on September 16.

The Pheu Thai Party’s premier digital wallet flyer, which is scheduled to begin before the 2024 governmental time ends on September 30th, is at the top of the government’s plan.

Nevertheless, there will be changes to the project, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat admitted on Wednesday. First of all, some of the money being distributed will not be modern; in the beginning, many poor people will likely receive cash.

A secondary bill that would increase the government’s budget for the current fiscal year by 122 billion ringgit to fund the handout program has already passed the legislature.

The policy statement is an updated edition of the one presented by former prime minister Srettha Thavisin, according to a state cause, with five or six problems designated as essential.

” The modern budget plan will be included, but it is likely to be revised”, the source said.

Ms Paetongtarn was selected by the House of Representatives as prime minister on Aug 16 to remove Mr Srettha, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court for a “gross ethics infraction” over his decision to nominate Pichit Chuenban, a former prisoner, as a PM’s Office secretary.

After being joined by a long-standing adversary, the Democrat Party, the Paetongtarn government now has the help of 322 Members in the House, excluding a faction of the Palang Pracharath Party led by Gen. Prawit Wongsuwon, who is now in charge of the party.

Pheu Thai, the main partnership party, has 17 government jobs, ministers and deputy officials, with the remaining 19 assets divided among its alliance partners.

Phumtham Wechayachai, the defense portfolio’s caregiver deputy prime minister, stated on Wednesday that the particular conference on Saturday may help partnership parties to examine and refine state policy before delivering it to parliament.

The alliance partners have been working together for more than a year, according to Mr. Phumtham, and any disputes may be resolved to find common ground.

He added that there wo n’t be any specific details in the policy statement because it will serve as a framework.

” We’ve talked about it, and there’s virtually nothing new. Although it’s a new government, the framework remains intact. Some information may get adjusted due to a changing condition”, he said.

According to Mr. Phumtham, the prime minister is quick to make connections and has demonstrated to be a competent public speaker, so she does not require training before speaking in front of the legislature or responding to MPs ‘ questions.

Family company

In response to criticism that the new government is a “family cabinet,” he also urged critics to never judge a book by its support. The censure came after former officials stepped aside to allow family members fill their jobs, perhaps spooked by the Srettha decision and its connotations.

Chada Thaised, a well-known Uthai Thani figure who was thought to be a good target of an ethics investigation, has stepped down in order for his daughter to assume the position of deputy interior minister.

In contrast, Thamanat Prompow is well known for his arrest for drug trafficking, which was determined to be inadequate to foreclose him from running for office in Thailand because it occurred in Australia. He has given his brother the title of deputy agriculture minister because he also ran short of the new ethics laws.

Mr Phumtham insisted that the ministers were selected based on their qualifications, irrespective of their family relationships.

Akanat Promphan, the coalition’s secretary-general for UTN, who will take over the case position, tore down censure on Wednesday that he had tried to defeat Yingluck Shinawatra in an effort to join the cabinet.

Mr Akanat, the son of lifelong Democrat power-broker Suthep Thaugsuban, was a key part of the now-dissolved People’s Democratic Reform Committee, which held road protests seeking to remove the Yingluck administration and finally set the stage for the 2014 defense coup.

” Making a decision is n’t easy, but I can assure you this is the best option at this moment”, Mr Akanat said.

” Threats and challenges facing the country have changed, and it’s time to close ranks”.