Roundup: 10 new faces join latest cabinet line-up under Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha

Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has done a new cabinet line-up in which 10 people joined his military- led government and 11 others were reshuffled out, according to a royal Thai gazette issued on Thursday.

The 10 new members in the latest cabinet line-up, approved on Wednesday by King Bhumibol Adulyadej with all former military commanders who had joined last year's coup to depose a civilian government, were given ministerial seats in the military-led government under Prayut, himself a former army chief who led the coup.

The new faces in the new Prayut cabinet include Somkid as deputy premier, Apisak as finance minister, Omsin Chivapruek as deputy transport minister, Uttama Savanayond as information and communication technology minister, Gen Anantaporn as energy minister, Suvit Mesinsri as deputy commerce minister, Gen Sirichai as labor minister, Tirakiart Charoensetasin as deputy education minister, Piyasakon Sakonsatayatorn as public health minister and Achaka Sibunruang as industry minister.

Those ex-members of the top brass who still find a seat in the new cabinet include former army chief Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, former army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, former navy chief Adm Narong Pipatanasai, former air force chief ACM Prajin Juntong and former supreme commander Gen Tanasak Patimapakorn, among others.

Somkid Chatusripitak, a former finance minister during the time of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, was named deputy premier in place of M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula who was reshuffled out of the new Prayut cabinet.

Somkid had been earlier tipped to become finance minister to replace Sommai Pasi who was reshuffled out.

Apisak Tantiworawong, a former bank executive, was named finance minister in place of Sommai.

Four persons were named deputy premiers including Somkid alongside the three others namely Gen Tanasak, who lost the seat of foreign minister in the previous Prayut cabinet, Adm Narong, who lost the post of education minister in the previous cabinet, and ACM Prajin, who lost the post of transport minister in the previous cabinet.

Don Poramatvinai was promoted from the post of deputy foreign minister to the post of foreign minister in place of Gen Tanasak.

Gen Dapong Ratanasuwan was reshuffled from the post of natural resources and environment minister to the post of education minister in place of Adm Narong.

Arkhom Termpittayapaisith was promoted from the post of deputy transport minister to the post of transport minister in place of ACM Prajin.

Gen Anantaporn Kanchanarat, a former counsel to the premier, was named energy minister in place of Narongchai Akraserani, who was reshuffled out of the Prayut cabinet.

Gen Chatchai Sarikalya was transferred from the seat of commerce minister to that of agriculture minister in place of Pitipong Puengbun.

Gen Chatchai was replaced as commerce minister by Apiradee Tantraporn who was promoted from the post of deputy commerce minister.

Gen Surasak Kanchanarat was transferred from the seat of labor minister to that of natural resources and environment minister in place of Gen Dapong.

Gen Surasak was replaced as labor minister by Gen Sirichai Dithakul, who is concurrently undersecretary of the Defense Ministry.

Meanwhile, Gen Prawit and Gen Anupong retain their seats in the new Prayut cabinet as defense minister and interior minister, respectively. Endi