BANGKOK, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been formally endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The Royal Gazette publicized on Wednesday the 36-member cabinet lineup of the new Prayut government, including the prime minister who concurrently assumes the post of defense minister.
The new Prayut government, consisting of three major parties, namely the Palang Pracharath Party, the Democrat Party and the Bhumjaithai Party, plus 16 splinter parties, has a total of five deputy prime ministers, three of whom have had their post unchanged from the previous Prayut government before the general election.
The three deputy prime ministers include Prawit Wongsuwan in charge of security affairs, Somkid Jatusripitak in charge of economic affairs and Wissanu Krea-ngam in charge of legal affairs. The two other deputy prime ministers are Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit, who concurrently assumes the post of commerce minister, and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who concurrently assumes the post of public health minister.
Palang Pracharath Party leader Uttama Savanayana has become the finance minister while Palang Pracharath Party secretary general Sontirat Sontijirawong has become the energy minister.
Don Pramudwinai has retained the post of the foreign affairs minister. So has Anupong Paojinda as the interior minister and Chaicharn Changmongkol as the deputy defense minister.
Democrat Party secretary general Chalermchai Sri-on has become the agriculture and cooperatives minister while Bhumjaithai Party secretary general Saksayam Chidchob has become the transport minister.
Prayut will lead all cabinet ministers in a swear-in ceremony during an audience with the monarch before taking office.
