Thailand's new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat were sworn in on Thursday at a ceremony before Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the royal residence Klaikangwon Palace in central beach resort town of Hua Hin.
The 36 new cabinet members took a group photo at the 6th Air Force airport in Bangkok's Don Mueang area Thursday afternoon before flying to Hua Hin for the audience with the King to swear in.
The King asked the new cabinet to honor their promises they made in their swear-in vows and to work for the prosperity of the country and the people.
Somchai, newly elected by the Parliament earlier this month, said he will chair the first Cabinet meeting in Bangkok on Friday to discuss the government's main policies with all the six coalition parties.
The cabinet meeting will be held at Don Mueang airport on Bangkok suburb, which was being renovated to serve as the new administration seat as the Government House in central Bangkok has been occupied by protesters organized by the anti-government group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) for one month.
Somchai has petitioned the public, and government critics to allow the new government time to prove its efficiency in running the country even though some were dissatisfied with the cabinet line-up.
Somchai dismissed speculations that he would sooner or later dissolve the House of Representatives and call for a general election.
The premier said his government is obliged to carry out policies and plans designed and implemented by the previous government.
As the new coalition government took office, the PAD has vowed to continue their protest against any government led by the People Power Party (PPP), which Somchai belongs to, and any attempt to amend the Constitution, as the PPP has been pushing since it won the general election in last December and formed
Somchai, former deputy PM, was elected as Thailand's 26th prime minister after Samak Sundaravej was forced out of premiership with a court verdict that found him in breach of the constitution by hosting TV cooking shows with commercial benefits while in office.
The new Cabinet list, which is composed of 36 members, got royal endorsement by the King Bhumibol Adulyadej Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua
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