- Published: 02/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
It was the second reshuffle of the Yingluck cabinet, involving 23 posts.
At the swearing-in ceremony, which formalised the cabinet ministers' status, the appointees led by Ms Yingluck pledged loyalty to the monarch.
They also swore to be honest in conducting their ministerial duties for the good of the country and the people.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana said the Royal Household Bureau informed the cabinet members beforehand that His Majesty the King would not speak at the oath-taking ceremony.
The new cabinet ministers will attend a special meeting at Government House today starting at 9am.
Meanwhile, 24 senators have requested a ruling on whether Varathep Rattanakorn is constitutionally fit to assume the post of PM's Office minister.
The senators made the request to the Constitution Court through Senate Speaker Nikhom Wairatpanich yesterday.
The senators, led by Prasarn Maruekapithak, said Varathep might not be qualified for the job because he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for malfeasance in connection with the two- and three-digit lottery while serving as a deputy finance minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra government.
Varathep was sentenced to two years in prison on Sept 30, 2010. However, the sentence was suspended for two years.
Mr Prasarn said Section 174(5) of the charter states a cabinet member must not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and he must not be appointed as a minister any sooner than five years after serving a sentence for a crime.
Mr Nikhom said he would have to first verify the signatures supporting the petition, a process which he said would not take very long, before forwarding it to the Constitution Court.
However, Kamol Bandaipech and Pichit Chuenban, who are in the Pheu Thai Party's legal team, insisted Varathep was qualified to take up the cabinet portfolio because he had not actually served a prison term.
They said it was required under the constitution that a person who is given a sentence of imprisonment must wait until five years after he has finished serving his or her sentence before he could assume a cabinet post.
This meant, they said, that the ban applies only to those who were physically imprisoned. Varathep, however, had not served any jail time.
Varathep said he was not worried about the petition. As long as the court has not passed a ruling on his status, he remains qualified to work as a minister.
The premier reiterated that Pheu Thai had thoroughly checked Varathep's qualifications before his appointment as a cabinet member.
She said she has complete confidence Varathep is in the clear.
But since the opposition wanted to pursue the matter, all the government could do was to wait and see how the court would rule, she said.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 03/11/2012 at 12:25 AM
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(5) having been discharged for a period of less than five years before the appointment after being sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment, except for an offence committed through negligence or petty offence" - 2007 Constitution
The PTP want to change the constitution. Anyone want to bet this one does not go?
- Discussion 2 : 02/11/2012 at 01:21 PM
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the pm promote,STOP CORRUPTION,yet employs a man who has a criminal record and given a suspended jail sentence ,are we suppose to believe her words,or was it another publicity stunts,she clearly fails to address these key issue,to be a good model and serve the people with honesty
- Discussion 3 : 02/11/2012 at 12:46 PM
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'They also swore to be honest in conducting their ministerial duties for the good of the country and the people.'
I bet as soon as they hopped back into their cars they forgot those little promises.
- Discussion 4 : 02/11/2012 at 10:48 AM
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Yingluck as been PM for slightly over a year and she is on her third cabinet. Obama is in his fourth year as President and only two people in his 15 person cabinet have changed. There is a lot to be said about appointing qualified, experienced people to begin with.
- Discussion 5 : 02/11/2012 at 08:40 AM
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Would it be better to ask how many ministers in this government do not have criminal records or black marks against them, wops now there is a question I would like an answer to
- Discussion 6 : 02/11/2012 at 08:13 AM
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Theres a reason why people with criminal records find it hard to get a job .Nobody trusts them .Why does the supposed government .
- Discussion 7 : 02/11/2012 at 08:04 AM
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"They also swore to be honest in conducting their ministerial duties for the good of the country and the people." and "he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment ... for malfeasance". Good start Ma'am, it appears that swearing has little meaning for some. Truly sad, and then to know there are honest hard working qualified people, but then, they probably miss one qualification, "be a yes Dubai man".
- Discussion 8 : 02/11/2012 at 07:39 AM
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"Mr Prasarn said Section 174(5) of the charter states a cabinet member must not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and he must not be appointed as a minister any sooner than five years after serving a sentence for a crime." Anyone who has been found guilty of any crime shouldn't be appointed to any government office, what precedence do you send to people about rule of law? Oh it okay as long as you are a member of the good old boy network. Pretty much anywhere else in the civilized world they wouldn't let a convicted criminal be a dog catcher let alone work in a government position. Welcome to Thailand!
- Discussion 9 : 02/11/2012 at 07:36 AM
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D3@mitrapaap - remember also that cabinet ministers are not required to be a memeber of the governing (or even any) political party - so even if they cannot find enough candidates without doubtful records in their own party they can anyway look outside. Somehow I think PT actually do this on purpose to show everybody they do not care about what the law says or indeed what anybody else thinks
- Discussion 10 : 02/11/2012 at 07:05 AM
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How many people does this party (Phuea Thai) have in their ranks? And they can't find enough people for some ministerial posts that have not been tried, imprisonend, sentenced, bailed out, etc. etc.
Well, that says a lot about the integrity of Phuea Thai and makes the swearing just a farce.
- Discussion 11 : 02/11/2012 at 04:15 AM
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"They also swore to be honest in conducting their ministerial duties for the good of the country and the people" Who believes they will do this?
- Discussion 12 : 02/11/2012 at 03:35 AM
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"he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment ... for malfeasance"
"Section 174. A Minister ... must not be under any of the prohibitions as follows: (5) having been discharged for a period of less than five years before the appointment after being sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment, except for an offence committed through negligence or petty offence" - 2007 Constitution
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