First Cabinet Reshuffle of the Yingluck Shinawatra Administration

(19/01/2012)

After almost six months in office, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has decided to reshuffle her Cabinet. The first Cabinet reshuffle of the present administration took place on January 18. Prime Minister Yingluck stated that Cabinet changes had been made for the sake of appropriateness and for the benefit of national administration. By a royal command countersigned by the Prime Minister on January 18, 16 Cabinet members were discharged and 16 members were appointed. Out of the 16 portfolios, six members of the first Yingluck Cabinet were transferred to new positions and 10 new faces were brought into the Cabinet. This means that there are both new and old faces in the second Cabinet of the Yingluck administration. According to the royal command, Mr. Kittiratt Na-Ranong was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, General Yuthasak Sasiprapha as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Woravat Auapinyakul as Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mrs. Nalinee Thavisin as Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan as Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat as Minister of Defense, Mr. Tanusak Lekuthai as Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Natthawut Saikua as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr. Charupong Ruangsuwan as Minister of Transport, Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt as Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Arak Chonlatanon as Minister of Energy, Mr. Boonsong Teriyapirom as Minister of Commerce, Mr. Suchart Tadathamrongvej as Minister of Education, Mr. Sakda Kongpet as Deputy Minister of Education, Mr. Surawit Khonsomboon as Deputy Minister of Public Health, and M.R. Pongsvas Svasti as Minister of Industry. Many business leaders shared the view that the Cabinet reshuffle was likely to improve the performance of the Government, and that the new Cabinet members would be able to continue the Government’s policies. The President of the Federation of Thai Industries, Mr. Payungsak Chartsutipol, said that the business community would like to see the Cabinet keep pace with the changing situation to enable the private sector to become competitive. The new Minister of Education, Suchart Tadathamrongvej, stated that he would accelerate the implementation of the “One Tablet Per Child” policy. Emphasis will also be placed on providing equal educational opportunities to all Thais and preparing the country’s personnel for the realization of the ASEAN Community in the next few years. In this regard, foreign language proficiency would be enhanced among Thai students.