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Published on February 13, 2008

Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat ranks first in seniority to fill in as acting prime minister should Samak be absent or unable to perform his job.

The other five deputies are Surapong Suebwonglee, Mingkwan Saengsuwan, Sahas Banditkul, Sanan Kachornprasart and Suwit Khunkitti.

Somchai, who doubles as education minister, is in charge of overseeing four ministries - Education, Social Development and Human Security, Interior and Culture - as well as the Public Sector Development Commission and Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment.

He is also empowered for three tasks - enforcing the Civil Service Act and its relevant regulations, enforcing provisions relating to administrative litigation and signing the power of attorney for public prosecutors to represent the prime minister relating to administrative disputes.

Surapong, who is also the finance minister, has oversight of two ministries - Finance and Public Health - and the National Economic and Social Development Board, National Village and Urban Community Fund, National Health Commission and the Office of the Knowledge Management Committee.

Mingkwan, concurrently Commerce minister, is in charge of overseeing three ministries - Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Labour - and the Consumer Protection Board, Public Relations Department, the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand and the Research Fund.

Sahas, who is Transport minister, is in charge of overseeing four ministries - Transport, Natural Resources and Environment, Energy, and Science and Technology - and one agency, the Cabinet Secretariat.

Sanan is in charge of overseeing two ministries - Agriculture and Tourism and Sports - and the Thailand Conventions and Exhibition Bureau and the Office for Special Zone Development for Sustainable Tourism. Suwit, who is also Industry minister, has oversight of two ministries - Industry and Information and Communications Technology.

PM's Office Minister Chusak Sirinil has supervision of three agencies - the Consumer Protection Board, Public Sector Development Commission and National Buddhism Office.

PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair is responsible for the supervision of three agencies - the Office of Permanent Secretary for the PM's Office, Public Relations Department and state-controlled MCOT.

The Nation