PAETONGTARN Shinawatra was confirmed as prime minister by Thailand’s king on Sunday (Aug. 18), two days after parliament elected him, paving the way for him to form a cabinet in the coming weeks.
Paetongtarn, 37, became Thailand’s youngest prime minister just days after his ally Srettha Thavisin was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, the judiciary that has played a key role in Thailand’s two decades of political turmoil.
The daughter of divisive politician Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn, won a landslide victory in the House of Representatives vote on Friday (16/8), winning 319 votes, or nearly two-thirds, to become Thailand’s second female prime minister, and the third Shinawatra to hold the position, after Thaksin and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.
The approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which is a formality, was read out by House of Representatives Secretary Apat Sukhanand at a ceremony in Bangkok, Sunday (18/8).
Wearing a formal uniform, Paetongtarn knelt and paid his respects to a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn before giving a short speech to thank the king and the people’s representatives for supporting him as prime minister.
“As the head of the executive branch, I will carry out my duties together with the members of the legislature with an open heart,” Paetongtarn was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia, Sunday (18/8).
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“I will listen to all opinions so that together we can take this country forward with stability,” he added.
Paetongtarn, who has never served in government before, will face challenges on several fronts, with the economy sluggish, his Pheu Thai Party’s popularity declining, and its 500 billion baht digital wallet cash handout program yet to materialise.
In his first press conference, Paetongtarn said he would continue all of his predecessor’s policies, including major economic stimulus and reforms, tackling illegal drugs, improving the universal health care system and promoting gender diversity.
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He said the government would not abandon its flagship digital wallet policy, but would seek to “study and listen to additional options” to ensure the scheme was fiscally responsible.
“The goal is to stimulate the economy so this intention remains,” Paetongtarn said.
The prime minister said he had no plans to appoint his father, Thaksin, to a government post, but would seek his advice.
Paetongtarn said details of his government’s policies would be presented to parliament next month. (Z-1)
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