Thailand is having new gov't by middle of next month: Thai PM

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday that the country is to have a new government by the middle of next month.

Prayut gave his assurances to reporters at Government House that the new government is being set up with cabinet ministers from varied coalition partners and that the country will certainly have it by the middle of next month.

Without naming names, the prime minister commented that some of the persons earlier named by the coalition partners to assume cabinet seats will finally be missed out. Prayut said the government can legally have a maximum of 36 cabinet ministers including himself.

He said now they are in the process of summoning those who may be finally accepted for cabinet posts to Government House to fill out a form and verify themselves.

Before taking office, the prime minister will lead them all in the swear-in ceremony during an audience with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The date for the designated ministers to swear in hasn't been scheduled yet.