Bangkok, July 3 – Thailand’s newly appointed cabinet ministers, including suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, took their oaths of office on Thursday in a ceremony presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen.

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The ceremony at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall marked the latest twist in a week of political upheaval that has seen three different individuals occupy the prime minister’s seat. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai officially assumed the acting premiership after Deputy PM Suriya Jungrungreangkit’s brief 24-hour tenure as caretaker leader.

Ms. Paetongtarn, now serving as Culture Minister following her suspension as prime minister by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, attended both the swearing-in and a subsequent cabinet meeting at Government House. Her presence sparked immediate debate, with some senators arguing that her suspension should disqualify her from any ministerial position.

The controversy stems from a leaked phone conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, which 36 senators allege violated constitutional ethics. The court is examining whether Sections 82 and 170 of the charter—governing the termination of ministers’ terms—apply to her case.

Thailand’s suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was sworn in as Minister of Culture on Thursday (July 3), a strategic move that enables her to attend cabinet meetings while awaiting a court decision on misconduct allegations.

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His Majesty the King advised the new ministers to serve with “knowledge, ability, and honesty for national prosperity and security” during the morning ceremony. The 14 reshuffled ministers, including Ms. Paetongtarn, had earlier gathered at Government House for COVID-19 tests and official photo sessions.

A brief cabinet meeting followed to clarify responsibilities among deputy prime ministers, though Ms. Paetongtarn notably avoided the prime minister’s office. She plans to report to the Culture Ministry on Friday morning, maintaining a foothold in government while the court deliberates her suspension.

Critics, including several senators, are pushing for an urgent constitutional interpretation, arguing that Ms. Paetongtarn’s alleged ethical breaches should bar her from the cabinet entirely. Some have even suggested that Mr. Suriya, as acting PM during the swearing-in, could face accountability for endorsing her appointment.

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The political drama underscores Thailand’s fragile governance landscape, with the Pheu Thai Party scrambling to stabilize its leadership amid mounting legal and public scrutiny.

-Thailand News (TN)