Prime Minister reshuffles cabinet

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has made a major cabinet reshuffle after two ministers in his previous cabinet are appointed privy councillors for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. Under the new cabinet reshuffle, announced Friday night and took effect immediately, 12 cabinet ministers are appointed, seven of whom served in the previous government and swapped seats between them. Those who have been switched to the new role are Panadda Diskul, a former minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, becomes Deputy Dducation Minister, while the other former minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana is named justice minister. Both are replaced by ex-transport deputy minister Omsin Chiwaphruek and former deputy commerce minister Suvit Maesincee. Former minister of science and Technology Pichet Durongkaveroj is appointed as Minister of Digital Economy and Society which is renamed from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Atchaka Sibunruang, ex-minister of industry, becomes minister of science and technology; while Teerakiat Jaroensettasin, a former deputy education minister, has been promoted to become minister; and former ICT minister Uttama Savanayana becomes new industry minister. Newcomers to the new cabinet Veerasak Futrakul becomes new deputy foreign affairs minister, Chutima Boonyaprapasara, a former permanent secretary for Commerce, is appointed deputy minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Pichit Akrathit, a business executive, is named deputy transport minister; and another businessman Sonthirat Sonthijirawong is appointed deputy commerce minister. (TNA)