Tycoon Srettha Thavisin was elected prime minister by Thailand’s bicameral parliament on Tuesday after more than three months of political deadlock since May’s elections.
Pheu Thai Party candidate Thavisin received the support of the deputies of the House of Commons – elected by popular vote – and the majority of senators – appointed by the former military junta (2014-2019).
The Pheu Thai-led coalition, which includes 10 other formations — two of which are linked to the military that led the 2014 coup — won 330 of nearly 500 seats in the House of Commons and 152 of 249 senators.
A close associate of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Srettha joined the ranks of the Pheu Thai Party in 2022 and resigned as general manager of Sansiri, one of Thailand’s leading construction companies, a few months ago to focus on to focus his political career.
With last Tuesday’s vote, Pheu Thai, runner-up in May’s elections, ended the deadlock Thailand has been experiencing since the May 14 elections due to the unexpected victory of the Advance party, a progressive formation who wants to separate the army. and diminish the power of the monarchy.
Despite victory in the elections, the coalition led by Avançar failed to form a government after opposition from the Senate.
On August 2, Pheu Thai decided to form its own coalition, which was joined by several conservative formations, including the pro-military parties Palang Pracharat and the United Nations of Thailand.
The election of 60-year-old Srettha Thavisin coincided with the return of Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand.
Thailand’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Shinawatra’s arrest and indicated that he must serve eight years in prison, the day the former ruler returned to the country after 15 years in exile.
However, the return to power of the party linked to his family, Pheu Thai, may give him hope of a pardon or guarantee a reduced sentence.
The 74-year-old billionaire Shinawatra – who ruled from 2001 to 2006 before being overthrown in a coup – is expected to serve eight years in prison in three cases ruled in absentia related to his administration of the country. of his former company Shin Corp.
The telecommunications tycoon was charged with corruption and shortly after arriving at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, was taken under police escort to the Supreme Court in his private jet from Singapore.
Since the fall of Shinawatra, Thailand has been living in a deep political instability that has kept the country in a cycle between anti-government protests, military-led dictatorships and democratic vacuums.
Source: DN
