New lineup sees only two sitting Palang Pracharat MPs and one ex-MP elevated to a ministerial role. It is also coming at a time of raised political tensions and a growing economic crisis meaning there is unlikely to be a honeymoon for the high office holders.

The Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha is believed to have completed his cabinet reshuffle and sent his list of new appointments to the Thai King for approval this Wednesday. Predee Daochai, formerly the President of Kasikorn Bank, will become Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister while now resigned government press secretary, Narumon Pinyosinwat, will become Deputy Minister of Labour.

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It was being reported last week that Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan ocha (centre) has submitted the names of six new ministerial appointments to complete his cabinet reshuffle caused by the resignation in mid-July of the government’s economic team and a push for change by Palang Pracharat Party MPs and members. The new appointments include former Kasikorn Bank Chief, Predee Daochai, as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister (left) as well as former government spokesperson Narumon Pinyosinwat (right) as Deputy Labour Minister.

The Thai Prime Minister has forwarded six appointments via the Cabinet Secretariat to His Majesty the King for approval. This will complete the much speculated on cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of the government’s economic team some weeks ago and a change at the top for one of the micro coalition partners, the ACT party.

If approved, the new lineup will see former Kasikorn Bank President, Predee Daochai, become a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

Another key development in the shakeup will be the appointment of former government spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat as Deputy Labor Minister.

Ms Narumon is reported to be close to Deputy PM and new Palang Pracharat Party leader Prawit Wongsuwan

Ms Narumon is reported to be close to the new Palang Pracharat Party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

She was elected to the executive board of the party after Deputy PM Prawit assumed the leadership at the end of June.

Ms Narumon was also named Treasurer.

A former lecturer at National Institute of Development Administration and US MBA holder

Before her election to the House of Representatives as a party-list candidate in 2019, Ms Narumon had been a lecturer with the National Institute of Development Administration.

She holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and a masters degree from Georgia State University having previously been a graduate of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

On Wednesday, Ms Narumon is reported to have submitted her resignation as government spokesperson as the Prime Minister’s finalised appointments were sent on for approval by the cabinet secretariat.

Chonburi MP to become labour minister

The lineup sees Suchart Chomklin, a deputy leader of Palang Pracharat and MP for Chonburi, appointed labour minister, a position last held by the smaller ACT Party. 

In return, Anek Laothamatas, of that party becomes the Minister of Higher Education replacing Suvit Maesincee who was one of the five ministers who resigned.

The newly elected Secretary-General of Palang Pracharat, Anucha Nakasai, a sitting MP from Chainat, is to become a minister at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Former PTT executive to get coveted Energy portfolio

The prime minister has also brought in Supattanapong Punmeechaow, a former executive with PTT to be the new Energy Minister, a position formerly held by Sontirat Sontijirawong and said still to be coveted by current Industry Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

Clinical attempt to minimise disruption

The cabinet reshuffle represents a clinical attempt by the PM to minimise the political fallout from the resignation of the former economic team led by ex-Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak, first from the Palang Pracharat Party and then from the government in mid-July.

New ministers will have no honeymoon

The new cabinet lineup will not enjoy any sort of honeymoon with a difficult economic situation developing within the country, ongoing student protests and political tensions within the ruling Palang Pracharat Party.

It is also unclear if the new lineup will have satisfied the rising clamour within Palang Pracharat for more MPs to be given more ministerial positions and control over economic policy. 

Of the five appointments made by the PM, excluding the ACT appointment, three were members of the Palang Pracharat Party, two being sitting MPs while one, Ms Narumon, is a former MP who resigned her seat after being appointed government spokesperson before her latest elevation.

Further reading:

Prime Minister indicates that the cabinet reshuffle will be complete very shortly with no problem

PM facing a political challenge from within the ruling party which put him into power in 2019 over cabinet plans

Thailand may have to live with the virus but can recover in two years says outgoing central bank chief

Economic team led by Somkid quits government in a shock move as rumours spread of a new lineup

Thailand may have to live with the virus but can recover in two years says outgoing bank chief

Somkid ready to bow out of government as September cabinet reshuffle seems to be on the cards

Plans to relaunch tourism from China thrown out as conflicting reports emerge of a new swine flu virus threat

Election of a new ruling party leader, shifts focus now to the future of the economics czar Somkid and his team

Banks ordered to cease dividends and shore up balance sheets on fears of loan quality erosion due to slump

Thai economy in even greater peril as Covid 19 shutdown appears to have had a bigger impact than expected

Election of Prawit as Palang Pracharat leader will see more grassroots politics in government

Emergency decree extended by Thai government but politics behind the scenes abuzz with PPP party heave

92% of suicides due to the virus are among the self-employed according to expert research group in academia

Government moves to clarify that it is not seeking cash from the kingdom’s richest business leaders in overture

Pheu Thai MP calls on Prime Minister to resign as index shows a collapse in business confidence to a 9 year low

Polls show the public becoming more polarised as Deputy PM assures public there is nothing to worry about

Thammanat claims the media attacks on him are a plot to overthrow the Thai government by a network

About the Author

Joseph Anthony is an expat from Ireland who has lived in Thailand for the last decade. He has worked extensively in the media including editorial positions in Ireland and Thailand. He is focused on economic and business stories in Thailand as well as the expat lifestyle.