Suriya to become acting PM

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will become the acting prime minister and will lead the new Cabinet at the oath-taking ceremony before His Majesty the King this Thursday.

An informed government source pointed out that Phumtham Wechayachai should have been the first in line to stand in for Paetongtarn as the acting prime minister during her suspension, had it not been for a legal technicality in the new Cabinet line-up rules, which means that Phumtham’s posts as deputy prime minister and defence minister have ended and he is yet to be formally reinstated as deputy prime minister and interior minister.

Since Phumtham has not yet taken an oath before the King, along with rest of the new Cabinet, he cannot perform his duties as deputy prime minister or interior minister. Hence, the role of acting prime minister falls on Suriya, the other deputy prime minister.

The source said that this is the first time that a prime minister has suspended while a new Cabinet is yet to be sworn in.

The secretary-general of the Cabinet has sought urgent advice from the Council of State about how to proceed under the present circumstances.

On September 17 last year, the Cabinet issued a resolution concerning a situation when the prime minister cannot perform their duty and which of the deputy prime ministers would become the acting prime minister.

The deputy prime ministers in line for acting prime minister are (in order):

1. Phumtham Wechayachai

2. Suriya Juangroongruangkit

3. Anutin Charnvirakul

4. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga

5. Pichai Chunhavajira

6. Prasert Chantararuangthong

Anutin has been out of the running since the Bhumjaithai party pulled out of the coalition government.