New Thailand PM Srettha takes office
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Thailand's new prime minister took office yesterday with the endorsement of the King, heading a controversial coalition that includes pro-military parties linked to former coup-makers.
The appointment of former property mogul Srettha Thavisin – from the Pheu Thai Party long associated with billionaire former premier Thaksin Shinawatra – ends months of political deadlock following May's general election.
Mr Srettha, 61, was confirmed by a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, just hours after Thaksin returned to the kingdom from 15 years of self-exile and was immediately jailed over old graft cases.
Mr Srettha received King Maha Vajiralongkorn's written command to form a government in a ceremony at Pheu Thai's headquarters at 6:00pm (7:00pm Singapore time), and is likely to announce his Cabinet in the coming days.
"The good of the country is my highest priority. I am confident the next four years will be years of change," Mr Srettha said after accepting the royal endorsement, pledging to work "tirelessly".
"The government under Pheu Thai will work hard to... create happiness for all people equally and make Thailand a land of hope for the young generation."
Outgoing prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha – a former army chief who overthrew the last Pheu Thai government in a coup – congratulated Mr Srettha and wished him luck.
Mr Prayut suffered a heavy defeat in May's polls as the upstart progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) rode a wave of youth and urban discontent over nearly a decade of military-backed rule to win the most seats.
But MFP's push to reform royal insult laws and take on powerful vested business interests spooked the kingdom's elite and saw party leader Pita Limjaroenrat blocked from becoming prime minister.
This opened the way for election runner-up Pheu Thai to build a coalition that includes Mr Prayut's party and another linked to the generals who ousted Thaksin in 2006 and his sister Yingluck in 2014.
Copyright: The Straits Times/ Asia News Network
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