Phiphat announced the postponement of the cabinet meeting in Songkhla scheduled for 8-9 June, pending consultation with Anutin to set a new date. Due to the large number of project proposals requiring thorough and complete review, the meeting is expected to be delayed by about one month.
At 11:00 a.m. on 26 May 2026 GMT+7 Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, gave an interview after chairing the cabinet meeting at Government House, noting that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul was on an official visit to the French Republic. He stated that the official off-site cabinet meeting (cabinet retreat) and inspection visit to Songkhla province scheduled for 8-9 June 2026 has been postponed because many issues are still under study. Once the Prime Minister returns, the matter will be presented for consideration. The meeting may be postponed by about one month or longer, pending consultation with the Prime Minister. Discussions have already taken place with the Budget Bureau and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
Similarly, Prasert Chanruangthong, Minister of Education, said that Phiphat, as chair of today's cabinet meeting, announced the postponement of the cabinet retreat in Songkhla due to some submitted project information still requiring verification and processing. Additionally, some local matters must be completed before proceeding, though no new date has been set.
Later, Lalida Pertwivatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that in today's cabinet meeting, Phiphat, Deputy Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister, received reports from NESDC and the Budget Bureau indicating that numerous projects from both the public and private sectors have been submitted for inclusion in the cabinet retreat originally scheduled for 8-9 June 2026. Since the meeting covers multiple provinces, additional time is needed to thoroughly review, filter, and verify project details to ensure maximum benefit for the public and alignment with the state budget framework.
Meanwhile, the cabinet retreat has attracted significant interest from relevant agencies, making it necessary to postpone the meeting by about one month to allow all agencies sufficient time to prepare information and fully coordinate their efforts. After the Prime Minister returns on 27 May 2026, further discussions will be held to set the official date for the cabinet retreat. The government affirms it will proceed with caution, transparency, and prioritize the interests of the local population.
