Thai king swears in new PM Paetongtarn, cabinet

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers take an oath in front of King Maha Vajiralongkorn at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 6, 2024. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers in a coalition government on Friday, following the royal endorsement of the new portfolios earlier this week. (Bureau of the Royal Household/Handout via Xinhua)
BANGKOK, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers in a coalition government on Friday, following the royal endorsement of the new portfolios earlier this week.
Paetongtarn and 35 cabinet members under the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition took the oath of allegiance before the king in a traditional ceremony held at the Dusit Palace in capital Bangkok.
Six deputy prime ministers from three core parties in the coalition, namely Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai and the United Thai Nation, attended the ceremony, along with cabinet ministers and their deputies.
Paetongtarn is scheduled to hold a special cabinet meeting on Saturday to prepare the government policy statement, which is expected to be presented to the parliament next week before she officially assumes office.
Paetongtarn, 38-year-old Pheu Thai Party leader and the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was elected the Southeast Asian country’s youngest and second female premier after winning a parliamentary vote in August. ■

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and new cabinet members pose for a group photo at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 6, 2024. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers in a coalition government on Friday, following the royal endorsement of the new portfolios earlier this week. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra meets with media at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 6, 2024. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers in a coalition government on Friday, following the royal endorsement of the new portfolios earlier this week. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra meets with media at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 6, 2024. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn swore in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and cabinet ministers in a coalition government on Friday, following the royal endorsement of the new portfolios earlier this week. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)