BANGKOK, July 18 (TNA) – Most of the 36 newly-appointed
cabinet ministers began their first day in office on Thursday, two days after
being sworn in before His Majesty the King of Thailand.
A royal command His Majesty King Maha Vachiralongkon issued
last week appoints the 36-member Cabinet of Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha. They officially assumed
their position after taking their oath in a ceremony on Tuesday.
Some of the ministers started their works on Wednesday which
was a national holiday while the rest began their first day at work on
Thursday.
Typically, the ministers paid homage to Buddha images at
ministries’ buildings before signing appointment documents. 
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was greeted with
a group of marijuana advocates who showed their supports for the leader of
Bhumjaithai Party who made medical marijuana its flagship policy. It has
reportedly been integrated into Prayut government’s policy statement which will
be delivered to Parliament next week.
In the first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the ministers
discussed the policy statement of the 19-party coalition led by the Phalang
Pracharath Party.
The policy statement reportedly focuses on short-term economic
stimulus, social inequality eradication, economic well-being promotion and
solutions to urgent economic problems.(TNA)
