New ministers get royal endorsement

Among the key appointees are former national police chief General Kowit Watana, who is set to become deputy prime minister and the interior minister; Chaiya Sasomsap, who has been appointed the new commerce minister; and Deputy House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont, as the culture minister.

Chaiya just a few weeks ago resigned as public health minister at a court order for improperly filing his wife's wealth. Somsak is expected to be replaced as deputy House speaker by a coalition MP.

As for Kowit, despite a court ruling against him, the Cabinet Secretariat had confirmed with the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary that it found no legal grounds to prevent Kowit from holding office, a source said yesterday.

Kowit was sentenced to a suspended jail term by the Criminal Court.

Five members of the previous Cabinet have lost their seats in the latest shake-up. They are Chalerm Yoobamrung as the interior minister, Puea Pandin Party leader Suwit Khunkitti as deputy premier and the industry minister, Suwit's party colleagues Ranongrak Suwanchawee as deputy finance minister, and Sithichai Kowsurat as deputy interior minister, as well as Wiroon Techapaiboon as deputy commerce minister.

Suwit recently announced his party's pullout from the coalition government but the majority of its MPs later reversed his decision.

Four people from Puea Pandin are in the new Cabinet. Mun Patanotai, the ICT minister from the previous one, has managed to retain the seat and is set to double as deputy prime minister, a position left vacant after Suwit's departure. New appointees from the party are Prasong Kositanon, who is new deputy interior minister; Phichai Nariptaphan, new deputy finance minister, and Pichet Tancharoen, new deputy commerce minister.

Other appointees, which have been correctly reported in the media over the recent days, include Suchat Tadatamrongvej, who is to serve as deputy finance minister.

Others have seen their positions swapped. Mingkwan Sangsuwan, deputy PM and the commerce minister from the previous Cabinet, now will become the new industry minister; Anusorn Wongwan, previously the culture minister, is now the social development and human security minister; and Chaovarat Chanweerakul, formerly the social development and human security minister, has become the new public health minister.