Bangkok: “Suang” has confirmed that the second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives will be filled by a member from the Pheu Thai Party, securing this significant quota for the party.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Surawong Thienthong, the Minister of Tourism and Sports and Secretary-General of the Pheu Thai Party, provided an update on the ongoing cabinet reshuffle. He stated that while he is not privy to specific details, the process of background checks is currently underway. The timeline for presenting the new cabinet list to His Majesty is contingent upon the completion of these checks, and there is urgency given the lack of ministers in several ministries. In the interim, caretakers have been appointed to ensure governance continues smoothly.
When questioned about the prime minister’s awareness of the new ministerial list, Mr. Surawong confirmed that the prime minister is indeed informed, although others are not. Addressing concerns about potential discord within the Pheu Thai Party, Mr. Surawong assured that there are no internal conflicts. He mentioned that, following recent news reports, he inquired among reporters about the source of such claims but found no basis for them. Instead, party discussions have centered around supporting the Prime Minister in his leadership role.
Furthermore, Mr. Surawong acknowledged conversations regarding the vacant position of the second deputy speaker of the House of Representatives. As party secretary, he has received multiple nominations for the role. The party awaits further nominations before discussing the matter at an executive committee meeting. He reaffirmed that the position would remain within the Pheu Thai Party’s quota.
Regarding the cabinet meeting’s proceedings, Mr. Surawong noted that while some ministerial positions were adjusted, the specifics of the process remain unclear to him. He indicated that those positions not requiring adjustments would not necessitate resubmission of historical data for examination. However, he admitted uncertainty about the total number of resumes submitted during the meeting.