PUBLISHED : 2 Sep 2023 at 04:00
The list of new cabinet members was submitted for royal endorsement on Friday, and the incoming government is likely to deliver its policy statement before parliament next Friday, according to a source at Government House.
The new cabinet should be royally endorsed in the coming days and the Pheu Thai-led government will announce its policies before next weekend, the source said, adding the first cabinet meeting is due on Sept 12.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he would review the list one more time yesterday at 5.30pm before having it submitted for royal endorsement, after the Council of State was asked to verify the credentials of the candidates.
Mr Srettha said he would wait until the cabinet swears the oath of office before entering Government House. Until then he is scheduled to meet representatives from various sectors to hear their concerns.
Outgoing deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday he was told there were no problems with the qualifications of any of the cabinet ministers.
“We don’t know if they have any prior convictions, so they must verify themselves, and we’ve checked them out with the agencies concerned. But if their morality comes under question, it’s impossible for any agency to verify that. The individuals must verify that they are morally fit [for the job],” he said.
Pichit Chuenban, who worked as a lawyer for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has come under much public scrutiny.
He served jail time for contempt of court over the so-called “cash-stuffed paper bag” scandal representing Thaksin in a controversial land case in 2008. Mr Pichit is tipped to serve as the PM’s Office Minister.