Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Saturday that a new government is expected to be fully established by next week, marking a significant transition in the nation’s political landscape. The Prime Minister confirmed that a comprehensive list of new Cabinet members is scheduled for submission for royal endorsement this coming Monday. Once the appointments are finalised, the administration intends to move with urgency to present its official policy statement to parliament, ensuring that governance can commence without further delay.
The upcoming policy statement, anticipated to take place between 7 and 9 April, will be heavily influenced by the election manifestos of Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party. According to Deputy Party Leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the government’s core focus will include the implementation of the next phase of a consumer subsidy scheme. This initiative is designed to provide financial relief to the public, with Finance Ministry official Lavaron Sangsnit confirming that the scheme will be officially launched as soon as the new administration is formally in place.
Addressing recent economic concerns, Anutin offered a public apology for the volatility surrounding the management of domestic oil prices during the first half of March. He explained that while the government initially attempted to freeze prices for 15 days to alleviate the public’s burden, the protracted conflict in the Middle East necessitated more sustainable measures. Consequently, the administration has shifted away from a rigid price cap in favour of planned oil tax cuts and other targeted support mechanisms to mitigate the impact of rising global energy costs.
Despite the cessation of the price cap, the Prime Minister urged the public to remain calm, clarifying that fuel prices would not be subject to a full market float as the national oil subsidy fund remains active. Supporting this stance, Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon revealed that Thailand currently maintains 107 days of oil reserves, with additional shipments expected to arrive throughout April and May. However, he noted that the national Oil Fund is currently operating at a significant deficit of approximately 38 billion baht (S$1.52 billion / RM4.94 billion).
On the diplomatic front, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that Thailand has been proactive in securing energy security by contacting major producers such as Brazil, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, coordination with Iranian authorities has been established to ensure the safe passage of Thai vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. With one Thai vessel already having navigated the corridor and another owned by SCG Chemicals expected to follow, the Commerce Ministry continues to closely monitor the pricing of essential goods to prevent any excessive inflationary hikes.
