New Thai government likely to take office after ASEAN Summit 2019

BANGKOK, June 13 (TNA) - The new Thai government, also headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha for his second term, is likely to take office after the country's host of the ASEAN Summit 2019 and related forums during June 21-23. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam, who oversees legal affairs, voiced the assessment at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday, stating that as Thailand's host of the ASEAN Summit 2019 and related forums is approaching, the list of the Kingdom's new Cabinet has not yet been submitted to the Bureau of the Royal Household for His Majesty the King's approval in a Royal Command. The deputy prime minister told journalists that the Secretariat of the Cabinet is in charge of looking into, thoroughly, qualifications of all new Cabinet members after the list of the new Thai Cabinet is soon approved by the incumbent Cabinet. "The incumbent government is preparing for Thailand's host of the upcoming ASEAN Summit and related forums in Bangkok and it is, thus, likely that the new Thai Cabinet should take office thereafter", said the deputy premier. According to the deputy prime minister, the list of the new Thai Cabinet may be submitted to the Bureau of the Royal Household by June 18 if the Secretariat of the Cabinet completes its qualification probe process by then and the new Thai Cabinet should be sworn in and start working shortly after this year's ASEAN Summit and related forums. The deputy prime minister revealed that based on the Constitution, the new Thai Cabinet will have to deliver its policy statement at the Parliament within 15 days after its members are sworn in before His Majesty the King. Thailand plays the chairmanship role of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2019. (TNA)