Thai Cabinet shuffled and sworn in with acting PM

Thailand saw its third person helming the prime minister’s office in a week on July 3, as the King swore in a new Cabinet after a court decision plunged the nation’s top office into turmoil.

- AFP

The prime minister’s office was upheaved on July 1 when the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending an ethics probe which could take months.

Power passed to transport minister and deputy prime minister Suriya Jun-grungreangkit who took office for only one full day, as the bombshell was dropped in an awkward interim ahead of the reshuffle.

Former defence minister Phumtham Wechayachai was sworn in as interior minister by the King on the morning of July 3, taking on a deputy prime minister role outranking Suriya’s — thus becoming the acting premier.

The Thai government said in a statement on social media that the new Cabinet approved Phumtham’s role as acting prime minister at its first meeting.