Politics Anutin Moved to Commerce Ministry as Pheu Thai Tightens Grip in Cabinet Reshuffle

[webfact]

Prasert Chanruangthong. Picture courtesy of Money and Banking Journal

 

Pheu Thai manoeuvres to assert dominance in key government positions. Prasert Jantararuangtong will step into a new role as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, a strategic shift from his former position as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

 

Today, from Government House, it was confirmed that Pheu Thai leader PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai are poised to communicate these changes to Anutin Charnvirakul.

 

 Anutin Charnvirakul | File photo via BJT/Facebook

 

Anutin, who has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior from the Bhumjaithai Party, is slated to move into the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce.

 

This reshuffle solidifies Pheu Thai's grip over the Interior Ministry, although ministerial roles under Bhumjaithai will otherwise remain intact.

 

In another noteworthy appointment, Jakkapong Sangmanee, a former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Prime Minister’s Advisor, will assume the role of Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

 

Meanwhile, the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, despite internal machinations led by 21 MPs, retains all its current ministerial posts.

 

Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Minister of Commerce, spearheaded these internal demands for changes, yet the party leadership, including Pirapan Salirathavibhaga as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, remains unaltered.

 

Additionally, the Kla Tham Party presents a change in the agricultural sector, appointing Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn as the new Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

 

His appointment replaces his father, Itthi Sirilatthayakorn, though the ministry’s leadership structure otherwise sustains its status quo, with Narumon Pinyosinwat and Akkhara Prompow continuing as Minister and Deputy Minister, respectively.

 

This strategic reshuffle points to Pheu Thai's ambition to consolidate power within Thailand’s political framework.

 

By acquiring heightened control over significant ministries, they seek to enhance governance efficiency and meet the growing public demands. The shift underscores a tactical move towards streamlined operations amidst an evolving political landscape.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-13

 

 

[topt]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Today, from Government House, it was confirmed that Pheu Thai leader PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai are poised to communicate these changes to Anutin Charnvirakul.

So according to this it has been publicly announced but Anutin hasn't been formally informed yet...........

If true his response should be 'interesting'.......

[JoePai]

Bottom line, he's being sidelined 

[factual monk]

I here by declare... battle of cash transfers to commence... 👍 

[jippytum]

All designed to get Thakin off the hook in his upcoming court cases. 

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

[hotchilli]

I hope he pulls his party out of the coalition... screw the PTP and Thaksin

[hotchilli]

22 minutes ago, jippytum said:

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

Forever, the Thai are to lazy to scratch an itch on their arese.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Didn't  we have a news thread here just the other day with Anutin publicly insisting that all the published rumors about him getting moved out of the Interior Ministry were false and that he was staying in that position???

 

Guess he ought to be moved instead to be in charge of the Thai Meteorology Department, so he can be in charge of the country's great weather forecasting system!    Raining crocodile tears today in Thailand!!!

 

 

 

[chilli42]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Forever, the Thai are to lazy to scratch an itch on their arese.

That is a bit unfair. They tried to get rid of these people through the electoral process. Look where that got them. Short of picking up guns there is not much they can do. Aside from which, just look at the buffoons that are running the G7 countries. Capable - no. Corrupt - yes. 

[spidermike007]

Hopefully it is considered a demotion. He has been a toxic liability for Thailand for well over a decade now. 

[MarkBR]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bottom line, he's being sidelined 

Coalition will collapse, unless he gets something very substantial in return.

[Andycoops]

About time the billionaire was downgraded because he's completely useless as we saw during his tenure during covid.

[paul1804]

2 hours ago, jippytum said:

All designed to get Thakin off the hook in his upcoming court cases. 

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

 

2 hours ago, jippytum said:

All designed to get Thakin off the hook in his upcoming court cases. 

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

Thais don't seem to have the motivation to force changes, look at the last supposed democratically elected leader by the people, he is no longer in politics despite having had a winning majority!! The military biased system voted him out and the people did nothing just like all the coup's

 

[paul1804]

 The Thai political system has so many deputy's, most countries have a leader and either a VP, a PM or a deputy PM who would step in as leader in certain circumstances. I guess given Thailands love of complications it fits their leadership system!

[paul1804]

3 hours ago, jippytum said:

All designed to get Thakin off the hook in his upcoming court cases. 

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

No the corrupt system is enjoyed by all the elite, not just Thaksin. The military should be in charge of the armed forces to protect the country and not have political involvement. History shows it is a perfect scenario for a basket case leadership, just look west, north, north again and east, all military controlled governments where the generals are wealthy and the people are mostly poor and lacking in Infrastructure. Thailand is no exception, why do they need to spend billions on 3 submarines when the money should be used on education, health and infrastructure. Where will the 3 subs operate given the shallow gulf of Thailand, the Andaman? its just a complete joke!

[Screaming]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I hope he pulls his party out of the coalition... screw the PTP and Thaksin

I hope he pulls his party out of the senate where he is guilty of money laundering and other offenses. The DSI report will reveal his corruption soon. 

[ukrules]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bottom line, he's being sidelined 

 

Yes, and he announced only a few days ago that he will be staying in his current job.

 

So he's been fired and quite publicly. I wonder if it will break the coalition apart and force a new election

 

[GreasyFingers]

9 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bottom line, he's being sidelined 

Thrown under a bus by his boss.

[saakura]

2 hours ago, paul1804 said:

 The Thai political system has so many deputy's, most countries have a leader and either a VP, a PM or a deputy PM who would step in as leader in certain circumstances. I guess given Thailands love of complications it fits their leadership system!

It has to sync with the number of Generals in the Thai Army?

[greeneking]

6 hours ago, jippytum said:

All designed to get Thakin off the hook in his upcoming court cases. 

How long will Thai put up with political manipulation of the justice system to appease one corrupt family. 

I gave you a 'cup', but would suggest there are many other corrupt families. How high can you go?

[sambum]

3 hours ago, paul1804 said:

 The Thai political system has so many deputy's, most countries have a leader and either a VP, a PM or a deputy PM who would step in as leader in certain circumstances. I guess given Thailands love of complications it fits their leadership system!

 

NoI think if anything happened to the current PM there would be a veritable plethera of MEETINGS to decide a successor (probably held at Thaksin's house!)

[greeneking]

2 hours ago, paul1804 said:

No the corrupt system is enjoyed by all the elite, not just Thaksin. The military should be in charge of the armed forces to protect the country and not have political involvement. History shows it is a perfect scenario for a basket case leadership, just look west, north, north again and east, all military controlled governments where the generals are wealthy and the people are mostly poor and lacking in Infrastructure. Thailand is no exception, why do they need to spend billions on 3 submarines when the money should be used on education, health and infrastructure. Where will the 3 subs operate given the shallow gulf of Thailand, the Andaman? its just a complete joke!

Abbot Wat Rai Khing charged with 300 million baht embezzlement May 2025.

[chondan]

Anutin's skimming will be a little less.   Ministry  of Interior is always the best place to get rich.

[chondan]

6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Didn't  we have a news thread here just the other day with Anutin publicly insisting that all the published rumors about him getting moved out of the Interior Ministry were false and that he was staying in that position???

 

Guess he ought to be moved instead to be in charge of the Thai Meteorology Department, so he can be in charge of the country's great weather forecasting system!    Raining crocodile tears today in Thailand!!!

 

 

 

Or TAT.

[AustinRacing]

Land of the deputy prime ministers. How many are there? In case the pm is incapacitated which of the deputy pms will get the job? 

[lordgrinz]

14 hours ago, topt said:

So according to this it has been publicly announced but Anutin hasn't been formally informed yet...........

If true his response should be 'interesting'.......

 

"Those dirty Pheu Thai!"

[BrandonJT]

5 hours ago, sambum said:

 

NoI think if anything happened to the current PM there would be a veritable plethera of MEETINGS to decide a successor (probably held at Thaksin's house!)

There's not many qualified candidates left. The stupid rule that the only people that can be PM are the ones nominated at the time of the election makes no sense, but so many candidates have been disqualified and/or banned at this point, that if the current PM is done, the next in line based on party size would be Anutin....  The only other alternative is to dissolve the government and have new elections, but I'm not sure if that's possible if the PM is removed first, since it's the PM that can do that.