Anutin declared that ministerial seats are not trial jobs; anyone whose performance falls short will be subject to reconsideration. He has arranged to have lunch with Yotsanan and Julpan at the Government House tomorrow.
On 1 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, spoke about the background of forming the Anutin 2 Cabinet, which includes three professionals: Sihasak Puangketkaew, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; and Supachai Suthamphan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce. There are no deputy ministers, and Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, does not hold a deputy prime minister role. When asked why, Anutin smiled and said this setup yields the best performance.
When asked if the absence of deputy ministers among these three 'chief ministers' would allow them to work fully without political interference, the Prime Minister said politics has never interfered, whether with the 'three chefs' term coined by the media or otherwise. They work as a Cabinet, and each minister has freedom in their duties. He selected ministers based on qualifications and expertise. As Prime Minister, he provides policies and supports the missions ministers want to carry out. If their work benefits the public and the country, he fully supports them. This approach ensures ministers work with clear objectives and deadlines.
When asked about the Bhumjaithai Party's prior reluctance to reshuffle the Cabinet and whether the current government would assess individual minister KPIs to open opportunities for others, the Prime Minister said that as the party grows, competition and performance evaluation are necessary. The country is not a place for trial jobs, and the Cabinet is not a reward for anyone. They serve the public's interests only. All appointments require ministers to prove their effectiveness. Those who do not meet targets or fail will be subject to reconsideration to maximize efficiency.
Keep Cabinet size balanced.
When asked about timing for Cabinet reshuffles, the Prime Minister said one should ask those who know him well. Asked why he appointed only 35 Cabinet members, Anutin said it was to keep balance and avoid excess. When asked if there were political reasons, such as waiting for others to join or pulling opposition parties into the government, Anutin said some things are best kept private. He stressed there is nothing that would affect the operation of the Anutin 2 government.
Asked about sharing an Isaan meal with Newin Chidchob, chairman of Buriram United Football Club, and whether any advice was given, Anutin said he had larp yesterday and no advice was exchanged. Asked if the coalition with the Pheu Thai Party involved agreements or MOUs locking ministerial seats, he denied this, saying there is mutual trust. Tomorrow, Yotsanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and Julpan Amornwiwat, Minister of Labor and Pheu Thai Party leader, will have lunch at the Thai Khu Fa Building, Government House. The purpose is to discuss work, with Yotsanan overseeing ministries under the Pheu Thai quota.
When asked again if the Ministry of Higher Education will oversee the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Prime Minister replied, "Yes, it will."