Eight new ministers sworn in before HM the King

BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday led eight newly-appointed ministers taking the oath of office before His Majesty King Bhumibol at Siriraj Hospital.

The eight new ministers are Industry Minister Chaiwut Bannawat, Information and Communication Technology Minister Juti Krairiksh, Labour Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, Culture Minister Nipit Intrasombat, Prime Minister's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon, Science and Technology Minister, Veerachai Veerametheekul, Deputy Minister of Finance Man Pattanotai, and Education Minister Chaiyos Jiramethakorn.

After the swearing-in ceremony, His Majesty the King voiced encouragement to the newly-appointed ministers to work honestly and devote themselves for the prosperity of the nation and the well-being of the people.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who has been hospitalised since September 19, is recovering from lung infections. His Majesty on Sunday endorsed the new ministers.

The Cabinet reshuffle, the fifth since the Abhisit administration came to power in December 2008, followed a Bhumjaithai Party ultimatum to the Democrats to remove several Puea Pandin Party factions from the six-party coalition government after some Puea Pandin MPs voted against the Bhumjaithai ministers in the no-confidence debate in Parliament on June 2.

Bhumjaithai Party leader Chavarat Charnweerakul, as Interior Minister, and Sopon Zarum, as Transport Minister, received less votes than the prime minister and other three ministers.

The removed ministers from Puea Pandin Party were ex-Minister of Information and Communication Technology Ranongruk Suwunchwee, ex-Minister of Industry Chanchai Chairungruang and ex-Deputy Finance Minister Pruektichai Damrongrat.

The three ministerial posts under the quota of the Puea Pandin have been replaced with the Democrat MPs and representative of other Puea Pandin factions who remained loyal to the government.

Three other Democrat ministers in the ministries of culture, science and technology, and labour, were removed from their posts.

Following rumours that some removed ministers may defect to other party in the aftermath of the Cabinet reshuffle, the new Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Ongart, said on Monday he did not believe any Democrat MP will switch to other party, particularly former Labour Minister Paitoon Kaewthong, saying solidarity is needed in the Democrat Party to help move the country forward amid the ongoing crisis.

Mr Ong-art was assigned by the prime minister Monday afternoon to supervise state-run media including NBT station, replacing Satit Wongnongteoy, who retains the portfolio, but has been assigned a new job to push forward the national reconciliation process.

New Labour Minister Chalermchai expressed confidence that there will be no political repercussions in the party after the Cabinet shake-up as the Democrat Party is an established institution and every party MP has self-discipline.

Mr Chalermchai added he will start his work at the Labour Ministry Wednesday morning and will focus on the care on domestic and overseas workers, adding that former minister Paitoon reaffirmed to him that he is ready to give advice and support the work of the new minister.

New Culture Minister Nipit said he will begin his work at the ministry on Thursday and will continue his predecessor’s work by fostering the value of democratic culture to reduce the country’s deep rift and will brainstorm the opinions of experts over the prime minister's road map for national reconciliation. (TNA)