Prayut wants to fill two vacant deputy minister positions in his government, but Teerachai is no longer a |candidate.

The prime minister also denied reports that Olan Pithak, director-general of the Agricultural Extension Department, would become deputy minister of the Agricultural and Cooper-atives Ministry. He said Olan was about to retire and he should stay at home to look after his grandchildren so he was not under consideration as a deputy minister.

Prayut said the new cabinet members “could come from anywhere” and he had not yet reached a decision.