Thai King approves cabinet reshuffle list

On October 28, the King of Thailand approved the third cabinet reshuffle list of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The list includes 14 newly appointed officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana; Deputy Education Minister Sermsak Pongpanit; Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yuthapong Charassathien; Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suwanatat; Deputy Transport Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong; Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal; Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong; Deputy Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew; Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk; Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Yukol Limlaemthong; Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Sansanee Nakpong; Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Warathep Ratanakorn; Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee; and Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. (Photo: THX/TTXVN)

The eight cabinet positions transferred include Plodprasob Surassawadee from Minister of Science and Technology to Deputy Prime Minister; Charupong Ruangsuwan from Minister of Transport to Minister of Home Affairs; Police Lieutenant General Chatt Kuldiloke from Deputy Minister of Transport to Minister of Transport; Natthawut Saikua from Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives to Deputy Minister of Commerce; Siriwat Kachornprasart from Deputy Minister of Commerce to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Worawat Au-apinyakun from Minister to the Prime Minister's Office to Minister of Science and Technology; Thanis Tienthong from Deputy Minister of Home Affairs to Deputy Minister of Industry.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul was concurrently appointed Deputy Prime Minister.

Twelve people lost their seats in the new cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha; Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon; Education Minister Suchart Tadathamrongvej; Deputy Education Minister Sakda Kongpetch; Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri; Deputy Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon; Deputy Finance Minister Wirun Techapaiboon; Culture Minister Sukulmol Kunplome; Industry Minister Pongsvas Svati; Minister of the Prime Minister's Office Nalinee Thavisin; Deputy Commerce Minister Phum Saraphol and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chuchart Harnsawat.

Before the list was approved, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the changes in this cabinet reshuffle were mainly to reward politicians who supported the government rather than to serve the interests of the people.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck affirmed that the cabinet reshuffle was aimed at improving the efficiency of the government apparatus and that she was not under any pressure from former Prime Minister Thaksin in making her decision./.

According to (Vietnam+) - DT