Latest News in Thailand

Thailand’s Prime Minister Samak removed 5 ministers and announced 6 new ministers.

Samak’s ‘ugly’ cabinet reshuffle …

Samak transferred Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan to the Industry Ministry

Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee kept his position.

Chaiya Sasomsup was forced to step down as health minister after the Constitutional Court said he failed properly to disclose assets.

New cabinet members include Kowit Wattana, a former police chief who briefly joined the junta after the coup before falling out with the leadership. He replaces Chalerm Yoobamrung, a former police captain who escorted Thaksin from the airport when he returned in February after 18 months in exile.

The minister reshuffle is what Samak has called the ‘ugly’ cabinet might relax tensions of the ongoing PAD anti-government protesters who say that Samak is a puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin.

The cabinet shuffle comes after consumer confidence dropped for three straight months of record inflation, the benchmark SET Index dropped 23% Thailand’s currency, Thai Baht, declined over 4% against the US dollar.

Surapong, the finance minister, faces pressure to resign after a court ruled this week that the former government under Thaksin illegally created a lottery. Surapong was one of 3 ministers who also served under Thaksin. The others; Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong and Deputy Transport Minister Anurak Jureemart, who also stayed in cabinet.

Samak appointed Tej Bunnag, a former ambassador to the U.S., as foreign minister earlier this week. He replaced Noppadon Pattama, Thaksin’s former lawyer who quit early last month after a court ruled that the Noppadon acted beyond his power by approving a joint statement backing Cambodia’s attempt to list the Preah Vihear temple as a UN World Heritage site.

PM Samak removes 5 Ministers, adds 6 new replacements

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