Thailand will have new government next week, PM says

BANGKOK, March 28 (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that he expected the country to have a new government next week, with a list of new cabinet members to be submitted for royal endorsement on Monday.

The new government will move quickly to deliver a policy statement to parliament so it can begin its work, Anutin told a press conference. 

The policy statement is expected to take place around April 7-9, and will be mostly based on the election promises of Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party, including the next phase of a consumer subsidy scheme, deputy party leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat told Reuters.

* Anutin apologised to the public for the turmoil caused bythe way oil prices have been managed in the first half of March. * The government initially held prices steady for 15 days totry to ease the burden on the public, but as the war in theMiddle East dragged on, it was necessary to adopt moreappropriate measures to mitigate the impact, he said. * The government has stopped capping oil prices and isplanning an oil tax cut, along with other support measures, toease the impact of rising oil prices. * The consumer subsidy scheme will be launched once the newgovernment is in place, said finance ministry official LavaronSangsnit. * Anutin urged the public not to panic, saying domestic fuelsupplies remain sufficient and that ending the oil price capwould not mean a full float, as there is still some support viathe oil subsidy fund.  * Thailand currently has 107 days of oil reserves, withadditional oil shipments due to arrive by April-May, EnergyMinister Auttapol Rerkpiboon said. * He added that the Oil Fund is currently running at adeficit of about 38 billion baht ($1.16 billion). * Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the ministryhas contacted Brazil, Nigeria, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan tosecure oil supplies, with all expressing readiness to cooperate. * Thailand has coordinated with Iran to ensure the safety ofThai vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Sihasak said, addingthat a Thai vessel had already passed through. * Coordination is underway to allow the passage of a vesselowned by Thai oil major SCG Chemicals, with more expected tofollow. * The Commerce Ministry is monitoring the prices of goodsand services to prevent excessive hikes.

($1 = 32.68 baht)

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by David Stanway)