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Paetongtarn, 38, was elected by parliament last month to become
Thailand's youngest premier after the shock removal of
predecessor Srettha Thavisin by a court.
Her Pheu Thai Party, which, together with previous incarnations,
has led governments since 2001, remains the dominant force in
the new cabinet, retaining Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira
and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.
Deputy premier Phumtham Wechayachai takes on the defense
portfolio and has been replaced as commerce minister by top Pheu
Thai adviser and former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan.
Pheu Thai, the populist party of the billionaire Shinawatra
family, has 17 of the cabinet positions, which include ministers
and deputy ministers, with the remaining 19 divided among
coalition partners.
The new cabinet could deliver its policy proposal to parliament
as early as next week, the government's chief whip, Wisut
Chainarun, told Reuters.
Those include an adjustment of Pheu Thai's signature policy to
transfer credit of 10,000 baht ($292) to 50 million Thais via a
smartphone application, some of which will now be delivered in
cash.
Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of the divisive ex-premier
Thaksin Shinawatra, who is still widely seen as wielding power
behind the scenes.
She is also the second woman and fourth family member to hold
the top post, with the other three removed by coups or court
decisions.
Pheu Thai will also control the transport, health, tourism and
culture ministries, while the Bhumjaithai Party, the second
largest in the alliance, received eight cabinet seats, including
the ministries of the interior, education and labor.
Bhumjaithai has said it will push ahead with plans for a
cannabis bill to regulate marijuana after its success in
de-criminalizing the narcotic sparked a boom in
marijuana-related businesses.
The quick formation of the cabinet was a good sign and would
help ensure a smooth rollout of stimulus measures, said Payong
Srivanich, chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association.
"There are many parties but we believe there is unity. We will
work together with the government," he said.
"Transferring money to the economic system quickly, especially
to vulnerable groups, will create liveliness at the grassroots."
($1=34.2100 baht)
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng;
Additional reporting by Thanadech Staporncharnchai; Editing by
Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez)
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