Anutin in Vietnam as Deputy Chairs Cabinet Meeting

Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Jeff Tomas

BANGKOK – Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stepped up to lead the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He presided over the session because the Prime Minister was away on official royal duties. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is currently on a highly important trip abroad. He is visiting Vietnam from September 14 to 16.

During this period, Anutin is acting in his capacity as an honorary minister. He is officially serving as the Minister-in-Attendance for the Thai royal family. Therefore, Phiphat had to take the reins at Government House in Bangkok. This routine cabinet meeting carried on smoothly despite the absence of several key ministers.

Key Takeaways

Cabinet Leadership: Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn chaired the recent cabinet meeting in Bangkok.
Royal Duties: PM Anutin Charnvirakul is in Vietnam from September 14 to 16 as an honorary minister.
Political Context: The meeting occurred amidst a major Election Commission ruling on a Senate collusion case.

Prime Minister Anutin’s trip to Vietnam is a significant diplomatic event for both countries. He is accompanying King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida on a historic State Visit. This is the very first time a Thai King and Queen have visited Vietnam since diplomatic relations started in 1976. The three-day visit marks exactly 50 years of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

The royal aircraft safely touched down at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Monday afternoon. Vietnamese President To Lam officially invited the Thai royal family for this special occasion. This highly anticipated state visit acts as the main event for celebrating five decades of close ties. It reflects a deep mutual respect that has grown steadily over the years.

Furthermore, this trip highlights a rapidly growing relationship between Bangkok and Hanoi. Thailand and Vietnam are actively deepening their strategic, commercial, and security connections today. At the same time, they continue to compete fiercely for foreign investment across Southeast Asia. Both nations strongly want to attract global technology groups seeking reliable production bases in the region.

In fact, Anutin visited Hanoi just three months ago to discuss trade and investment. During that earlier trip, he actively pushed for a much more balanced economic partnership. He encouraged Vietnamese businesses to increase their investments in Thailand for long-term shared growth. This continuous dialogue shows how important Vietnam has become to Thailand’s regional strategy.

Navigating Political Challenges at Home

While Anutin travels abroad, Thai politicians face intense media scrutiny back at home. Just hours after the Prime Minister left for Vietnam, a major political ruling suddenly emerged. The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) delivered its final verdict on a massive Senate collusion case. They officially sent 77 individuals to the Supreme Court, including 26 currently serving senators.

Interestingly, top political figures accused of helping these candidates managed to avoid any legal referral. This fortunate group included PM Anutin and other influential members of his Bhumjaithai Party. Consequently, this major breaking news landed while the Prime Minister was safely out of the country. The timing of his departure quickly became a popular topic of discussion among local journalists.

Before chairing the cabinet meeting, Phiphat directly addressed questions about this controversial legal ruling. Speaking as a key leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, he wanted to clear the air immediately. At first, he politely declined to comment, saying the issue was entirely unrelated to the party. He tried to keep the focus firmly on the day’s upcoming cabinet agenda.

However, reporters heavily pressed him about possible connections between his network and the ECT prosecution list. Phiphat paused, turned back to the press, and firmly stated that the party has absolutely no involvement. He emphasized that politicians naturally have friends, but the party cannot interfere in independent Senate matters. He completely denied any organized effort to illegally support these controversial political candidates.

Managing Government Operations

When asked if he had spoken with other party members facing allegations, Phiphat remained perfectly calm. He stated he had not yet met with them but would likely speak very soon. Furthermore, he noted he had not discussed these specific issues with Anutin due to his busy travel schedule. The acting chair made it very clear that official government duties must come first during this time.

Phiphat also confidently answered questions about the upcoming, highly anticipated parliamentary debates. The opposition definitely plans to raise the Senate collusion case during a future no-confidence debate. He mentioned he was not worried and promised the government would simply present the clear facts. Readers can find more about this unfolding political drama in recent reports from SAPM News.

Meanwhile, the Tuesday cabinet meeting proceeded smoothly with a noticeably slightly empty room. Eight cabinet members officially notified the central committee of their formal absence that day. This missing group included the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Defence. Several deputy ministers were also unavailable due to various pressing, prior official engagements.

Despite these numerous absences, Phiphat ensured the government’s daily work continued without any major disruption. He effectively managed the session, showing strong leadership during a rather busy political week.

When asked about future government stability, he wisely suggested asking the Prime Minister upon his return. Ultimately, Phiphat kept the administrative wheels turning while Anutin represented the nation overseas.