Chonlanan To Resign As Pheu Thai Leader But May Take On Health Portfolio

Thai Enquirer runs a source report suggesting that Pheu Thai Party (PTP) leader Chonlanan Srikaew will resign after the new Cabinet is officially formed in the coming days, making good on his election pledge to give up his party position if the PTP enters a coalition agreement with the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).

• Chonlanan had previously suggested that he would step down as party leader as the PTP's alliance with election front-runners Move Forward Party (MFP) collapsed and the party formed one bloc with pro-junta PPRP and UTN. Still, Thai Enquirer suggests that the politician is expected to become Health Minister in the new government.
• Newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is close to finalising the line-up of his Cabinet, with the official announcement expected in the coming days. Thai Nation and Thai PBS reported that Pichit Chuenban, a former lawyer of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin, will become PM's Office Minister as part of the "Shinawatra quota."
• The outgoing Cabinet held its final meeting today before making way for Srettha's team to take over. The new Prime Minister said today that the vetting process for new Cabinet members will take two days and he expects to be able to present the government's policy agenda to parliament on September 8.