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)

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