Chalerm 'unhappy' as Cabinet jobs allocated
Former foreign minister Surapong Towichakchaikul remains the top deputy premier in the fifth Yingluck Cabinet, while Kittiratt Na-Ranong has been appointed Deputy PM number five.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday rejected talk that new Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung was unhappy with his change of position, denying any dispute between her and Chalerm.
However, Pheu Thai MP Anan Sriphan, who is close to Chalerm, said yesterday the former deputy PM was unhappy with the latest change, as he had been “demoted”. However, he did not think Chalerm would resign soon, as speculated.
The Cabinet met yesterday to distribute work and responsibility among seven newly-appointed deputies for the Prime Minister, who will work in her capacity when she cannot carry out her PM duties.
They are: Surapong, Niwatthamrong Boonsong-paisal, Pracha Promnok, Plodprasop Suraswadi, Kitti-ratt, Pongthep Thepkanchana and Yukol Limlaemthong.
Yingluck oversees the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the Public Relations Department, the PM’s Secretary General, Secretariat of the Cabinet, Royal Development Projects Board, National Economic and Social Development Board, His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, the Council of State, the Royal Household Bureau and Internal Security Operations Command.
Surapong oversees the Foreign Ministry, the ICT and Science and Technology ministries, and the National Research Council of Thailand.
Niwatthamrong oversees the Commerce Ministry, Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry (Rice and Agricultural Promotion only) and the National Economic and Social Advisory Council.
Pracha oversees the Defence Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the National Security Council, the National Intelligence Agency, the Royal Thai Police and the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre.
Plodprasop oversees the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and the Labour Ministry.
Kittiratt oversees the Finance Ministry, the Transport Ministry, the Industry Ministry and the Budget Bureau (except approving the budget).
Phongthep oversees ministries for Social Development and Human Security, Energy, Culture, Education, Public Health, the Consumer Protection Board, the Civil Service Commission, the Public Sector Development Commission. He also has authority to endorse a prosecution indictment against the PM in cases related to her administration.
