Bhumjaithai rejects three Pheu Thai nominees for cabinet positions

The Bhumjaithai Party has decided to abandon the 10:1 quota system for the allocation of cabinet seats among coalition partners, according to well-informed party sources.

The party has also rejected three of the Pheu Thai Party’s candidates for cabinet posts in the new administration and has suggested that it nominate new faces instead, according to party sources.

The three candidates proposed by the Pheu Thai Party and rejected by Bhumjaithai are Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Somsak Thepsuthin and Prasert Chantararuangthong.

Commanding 192 seats in the House of Representatives, Bhumjaithai will be allocated 19 cabinet seats across 14 ministries.

The coalition currently comprises Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai, Palang Pracharath and several smaller parties with one or two MPs each, the sources said.

The 14 ministries to be controlled by Bhumjaithai are Interior, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Commerce, Transport, Energy, Tourism and Sports, Industry, Public Health, Natural Resources and Environment, Culture, Justice, Digital Economy and Society, as well as the Prime Minister’s Office.

Key party members who will retain their cabinet posts, in addition to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, are Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Ekniti Nitithanprapas and Suphajee Suthumpun as foreign, finance and commerce ministers, respectively. They will also serve as deputy prime ministers.

The sources said that Dr Borwornsak Uwanno may be given the defence portfolio, in addition to serving as a deputy prime minister.

Other cabinet appointees include:

• Songsak Thongsri (deputy interior minister)

• Sasithorn Kittidhrakul (deputy interior minister)

• Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn (transport minister)

• Chaichanok Chidchob (minister of digital economy and society)

• Pattana Promphat (public health minister)

• Akanat Promphan (industry minister)

• Suchart Chomklin (minister of natural resources and environment)

• Surasak Phancharoenworakul (minister of tourism and sports)

• Sabeeda Thaised (culture minister)

The Pheu Thai Party, which now has 75 MPs, will be allocated eight cabinet posts in the Labour, Education, Agriculture, and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation ministries.

Meanwhile, 396 constituency MPs-elect already certified by the Election Commission began reporting to the commission’s office to receive their letters of certification. The first to report was Suchana Sang Taensap of the Bhumjaithai Party, representing Chaiyaphum province.

Certified MPs can then report to parliament.