Suspended Thai PM Paetongtarn sworn in as culture minister
This includes suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra who has been appointed culture minister while she is under court investigation over a controversial leaked phone call.
Paetongtarn and other cabinet members took the oath Thursday, two days after the Constitutional Court suspended her from her duties over a call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. While holding her ministerial post, she will be able to attend cabinet meetings.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been named Thailand's acting prime minister. He took over the role from another veteran politician from the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The party leads the coalition in parliament with only a thin majority.
The court is now weighing whether to remove Paetongtarn entirely from the premiership. Thai media report it's expected to take around a month or longer for a verdict to be handed down.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
6 hours ago
- NHK
Singapore PM urges dialogue in Thai-Cambodian dispute
Singapore's prime minister has called on dialogue to resolve the ongoing border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated after a military clash in May. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong posted on Facebook after meeting his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on Wednesday. Wong wrote that he "highlighted the need for both sides to exercise restraint and de-escalate the situation." He also urged both nations to continue dialogue "to resolve the matter amicably, in accordance with international law." He added ASEAN countries cannot afford to let disputes divide them amid increasingly uncertain global circumstances. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia soared after their armed forces exchanged fire along the border on May 28. One Cambodian soldier was killed in the incident. Since then, both sides have implemented measures to restrict the movement of people and goods across the border. A phone call between Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Hun Sen over the issue was leaked, causing political turbulence in Thailand.
NHK
6 hours ago
- NHK
Thai opposition parties step up pressure on government
Thailand's opposition parties have been increasing pressure on the country's government, which has been in flux since Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from her duties. The largest opposition, the People's Party, is calling for the dissolution of parliament by the end of the year and a new general election. The leaders of the opposition parties held a joint meeting on Thursday. It included Bhumjaithai, which left the ruling coalition last month in protest of Paetongtarn's handling of a border dispute with Cambodia. The leaders questioned the government's long-term viability and whether it is able to resolve the challenges facing the country. People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said at the joint press conference: "I reaffirm that all members of the opposition coalition, and all party leaders, have agreed that we will not let politics reach a dead-end. The country must have a way out." On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn from her duties as prime minister. She has been facing political turmoil since her phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen was leaked. During their talk about their countries' border dispute, she seemed to disparage a Thai Army commander. Paetongtarn still serves as culture minister, and her Pheu Thai Party leads the coalition in parliament with only a thin majority. The court is now weighing whether to remove Paetongtarn entirely from her role. Thai media report that it is expected to take around a month or more for a verdict to be handed down.
Japan Times
8 hours ago
- Japan Times
Lawmakers' average income flat at ¥25.13 million
The average income of Japanese lawmakers in 2024 stood at ¥25.13 million ($174,679), almost unchanged from the previous year, both chambers of the parliament said Monday. The top earner among Diet members was Kenji Nakanishi of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party with ¥662.45 million, mostly from capital gains and dividends from his shareholdings. Four lawmakers earned over ¥100 million, and all of them were LDP members. The highest income among opposition party lawmakers was ¥87.54 million, earned by Kenko Matsuki of the leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. By party, the LDP had the highest average income, at ¥28.22 million, followed by the Democratic Party for the People, at ¥24.64 million, Nippon Ishin no Kai, at ¥23.08 million, and the CDP, at ¥21.88 million. Among the members of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato was the top earner, at ¥225.93 million. Kato earned ¥199.31 million from the sale of land inherited from his parents. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi came second, at ¥33.09 million, followed by digital transformation minister Masaaki Taira, at ¥32.86 million. Ishiba, also LDP president, ranked fourth among the Cabinet members with ¥30.41 million. Ishiba was the top earner among the leaders of eight Japanese political parties, followed by Tetsuo Saito, chief of Komeito, with ¥28.25 million, and Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, with ¥25.84 million. The income of Ishiba was pushed up by growth in miscellaneous income, including writing, speaking and television and radio appearance fees, and royalties, according to the reports on lawmakers' incomes for last year. The average income of lawmakers was ¥26 million for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, and ¥23.87 million for the House of Councilors, the upper chamber. The tally covered 339 Lower House lawmakers and 233 Upper House members, who held their seats throughout 2024. The income of Diet members is disclosed every year under the law on disclosure of lawmakers' assets, which was enacted in 1992. Supplementary reports, required to declare newly acquired assets, were submitted by 80 Lower House members and 85 Upper House members. Reports listing the names of companies and organizations from which lawmakers received compensation were also released.
