February 4, 2008
BANGKOK - PM Samak Sundaravej plans to submit his cabinet line-up to HM the King Bhumibol for approval on Wednesday, which would clear the way for the new elected government to be sworn in, an official said.
"The prime minister will submit the cabinet list to the king at 4:30 pm (0930 GMT) Wednesday, and the whole cabinet is set to be sworn in by the king soon afterward," an official in Samak's People Power Party (PPP) told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"The prime minister wants the cabinet to be able to begin work immediately," he said Monday.
Samak led the PPP to victory in elections on December 23, returning Thailand to civilian leadership after a military coup in September 2006.
Samak won the election by openly campaigning as a proxy for Thaksin, and has promised to bring the billionaire back to Thailand.
He announced on Sunday that he will take over the defence ministry himself, but has given few other public indications of what his cabinet will look like. Top Thaksin aides are widely tipped for leading posts.
