Bangkok: Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in a new cabinet on Thursday following a royal endorsement of the ministerial lineup earlier this week. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, acting as prime minister, led 14 newly appointed and reassigned ministers in taking the oath of allegiance before the king, a necessary formality before they can assume their roles.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who has been suspended from performing prime ministerial duties by a constitutional court pending an ethics investigation, attended the ceremony after she was previously appointed to also serve as culture minister. A group of 36 senators last month petitioned the court seeking her dismissal from office, accusing her of serious ethical violations linked to a leaked telephone conversation over border issues with Cambodia.
Suriya is scheduled to chair a special cabinet meeting at the government house later in the day to delegate tasks and responsibilities to deputy prime ministers and ministers, the government said.