Politics Thailand's king confirms new cabinet - end to the turmoil?

After a month of political turmoil, Thailand will have a new government this week. King Maha Vajiralongkorn has confirmed the cabinet put together by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra - the names of the 35 ministers were published in the Royal Gazette. The new government is to be sworn in on Friday.

The 38-year-old Paetongtarn from the Pheu Thai party had already been ceremonially confirmed in her new office by the king two and a half weeks ago and tasked with forming a new government. She is the youngest head of government ever in Thailand. After her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra, she is only the second woman to hold this office.

In the new government, the ruling party Pheu Thai holds 16 ministerial posts, with the remaining 19 posts distributed among the coalition partners. Many of the ministers already held their posts under the previous government of Srettha Thavisin, who had only been in office since last year. Srettha was surprisingly dismissed by the Constitutional Court three weeks ago.

Daughter from an influential family

This was preceded by a complaint from 40 senators who accused the head of government of breaching ethical rules by appointing a politician with a criminal record.

Paetongtarn is the offspring of the influential Shinawatra clan and daughter of billionaire and former head of government Thaksin Shinawatra. Like his sister Yingluck, he ruled for several years. However, both were then ousted from power in military coups.

Thaksin (75), who only returned from exile last year, is still regarded as an influential string-puller. This is a constant source of criticism from political opponents. According to observers, it remains to be seen whether calm and stability will return with his daughter in government.

In recent decades, Thailand has repeatedly seen coups d'état and subsequent military governments. The democracy movement, especially among younger Thais, has long been trying to make its voice heard through street protests.

Only recently, under pressure from conservative forces, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) - the actual winner of the 2023 parliamentary elections.