Thai PM Unveils New Cabinet

Posted August 9th, 2011 at 4:05 pm (UTC-5)
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Thailand's new prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has unveiled a new cabinet after receiving the approval of the country's king.

Details of the 35-member Cabinet were released late Tuesday, a day after Ms. Yingluck took office with a call for peace and national reconciliation.

The new Cabinet includes four “outsiders”, or non-lawmakers, but notably excludes leaders from the “Red Shirts” protest movement, which helped usher her into power.

Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, who previously served as the deputy governor of the Bank of Thailand, was appointed finance minister. While former stock market president Kittirat Na Ranong was named commerce minister.

The post of foreign minister was assigned to Pheu Thai lawmaker Surapon Tovijakchaikul. While General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, an ally of her brother former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was named defense minister. Thaksin was overthrown in a bloodless 2006 coup and is now living in self-imposed exile.

Ms. Yingluck won a landslide victory in July 3 elections and was officially made the country's first female prime minister by a parliamentary vote on Friday.