PM Paetongtarn promises rigorous vetting for new Cabinet

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that thorough background checks will be conducted on candidates for Cabinet posts to ensure compliance with legal requirements and avoid any potential legal issues. This move aims to safeguard the new government from the troubles faced by previous administrations.

PM Paetongtarn made these comments yesterday, August 19, at the National Defence College, where she is enrolled in an intensive programme for new executives. The 37 year old expects the ruling alliance, led by the Pheu Thai Party and ten other parties, to reach an agreement this week on forming the new Cabinet.

Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin, was elected by the House of Representatives on Friday. She received overwhelming support, becoming the country’s 31st and youngest prime minister. The US-born Thai PM revealed that Pheu Thai key figures met yesterday to discuss the party’s ministerial candidates, and further talks with other key members are scheduled for today.

Thai media reports indicate that Paetongtarn has not promised to retain all Cabinet members appointed by the previous Srettha Thavasin government. She stressed the importance of running thorough background checks on ministerial candidates to prevent future issues.

“The qualifications of those who will become Cabinet ministers must be inspected carefully to avoid any mistakes, Everyone is concerned about the issue, It will take less than a month to form a Cabinet.”

Bangkok-born Srettha was dismissed from office by the Constitutional Court on August 14 for an ethics violation, resulting from his appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. To avoid similar issues, Paetongtarn stated that the Council of State, the government’s legal arm, will be asked to check the qualifications of ministerial candidates. She also urged coalition allies to screen their candidates before submitting their lists for Cabinet posts.

Qualification checks

Paetongtarn denied reports that the Pheu Thai would reclaim the interior minister post held by Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul in the previous government. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai mentioned that the Pheu Thai has asked coalition partners to send their Cabinet selections to the Prime Minister’s Secretary-General, Prommin Lertsuridej, for submission to the Council of State for qualification checks.

In light of the Constitutional Court’s ruling in the Srettha case, Phumtham emphasised that the Council of State and the Cabinet secretariat must thoroughly check the qualifications of ministerial candidates. Coalition parties are expected to submit their lists of ministerial candidates to the PM’s secretary-general today.

When questioned about whether the quotas of Cabinet posts held by coalition allies in the previous government would remain unchanged, Phumtham stated that the prime minister would discuss the matter with them.

Sources indicate that caretaker Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Captain Thamanat Prompow could also undergo qualification checks if considered for a Cabinet post in the new administration, due to his conviction and incarceration for a drug-related offence in Australia during the 1990s, reported Bangkok Post.