Thailand's New Cabinet Faces Challenges Amid Ethical Scrutiny

Thailand's new Cabinet has been approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra leading. Paetongtarn, daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, succeeds Srettha Thavisin, who was ousted due to an ethics violation. The Cabinet largely retains members from Srettha's administration, with some new appointments to ensure legal compliance.

Thailand on Wednesday welcomed a new Cabinet after King Maha Vajiralongkorn approved the appointment of 35 members to serve under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took office on August 16, following the ousting of her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, who was removed by a court ruling for breaching an ethics law by appointing a Cabinet member previously imprisoned for bribery. Paetongtarn is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who remains politically influential despite being ousted by a military coup in 2006.

The Pheu Thai Party, led by Paetongtarn, ascended to power after last year's general election. Although the Move Forward Party won the most seats in the poll, members of the conservative Senate blocked its prime ministerial nominee, allowing Pheu Thai to form the government. Several key figures from Srettha's administration, including five deputy prime ministers, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, continue in their roles.

The royal endorsement of the new Cabinet followed weeks of conjecture, particularly after the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party was excluded from the ruling coalition. The party, led by retired General Prawit Wongsuwan, was thought to be behind the ethics case that led to Srettha's removal.

In forming the new coalition, Pheu Thai extended an invitation to its long-time rival, the Democrat Party. Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on was appointed Minister of Natural Resources. Historical tensions between Pheu Thai's predecessor, the Thai Rak Thai Party, and the Democrat Party date back to 2001, when Thaksin Shinawatra's rise to power marked the end of Democrat dominance in Thai politics. Thaksin's ouster in 2006 led to prolonged conflict between his supporters and opponents.

Amid these changes, Paetongtarn's Cabinet appointments underwent rigorous vetting to avoid legal repercussions. Controversial figures such as Srettha's Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaised and Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao lost their positions due to past criminal allegations. Legal expert Prinya Thaewanarumitkul highlighted the potential for ongoing ethics investigations, given the court's broad interpretative powers over constitutional terms.

The Pheu Thai party may face more challenges from aggrieved parties and those able to launch ethics petitions, rather than from parliamentary opposition, Prinya warned.

(With inputs from agencies.)