Srettha beomes new PM

[reader]

From The Nation

Breaking a political standstill that has lasted nearly 100 days, Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin succeeded in becoming Thailand’s 30th prime minister.

After hours of debate, the former real estate tycoon received ….(vote)… votes in the joint sitting on Tuesday.

He required only 374 votes.

Srettha was proposed by a Pheu Thai-led coalition, comprising 11 parties who together have a majority of seats in the lower house – 314 seats. The allocation of ministerial posts was made before today's PM election.

After assuming office, the Pheu Thai-led government pledged to put forward an agenda for amending the present Constitution in its first Cabinet meeting. It claims the 2017 charter is Thailand's current problem.

On the same day, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Thailand after spending 15 years living in self-exile.
 

[fedssocr]

it will be interesting to see if they manage to get much done. Seems like a fairly unwieldy coalition but I guess they only need 251 votes to do things in the House.

[PeterRS]

The fact that Pheu Thai has reneged on its election promise not to ally itself to any military party (there are 2 military backed parties in its coalition) is already causing anger around the country. 

[reader]

From Thai PBS World

Move Forward becomes main opposition party

Despite being the largest single party in Thailand’s House of Representatives, the Move Forward party has announced that it will work in opposition, after parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin, yesterday (Tuesday).

Srettha received 482 votes of approval, against 165 of disapproval and 81 abstentions.

Move Forward’s secretary-general, Chaithawat Tulathon, told the media that the partnership between Pheu Thai and the junta-linked parties, among others, to form the coalition government does not end the political divide, characterized by the red and yellow groups, but is collusion to extend the junta’s political system.

He said that the party will do its utmost to check the performance of the government for the benefit of the people and will coordinate with those outside parliament to effect change in Thai society.

[vinapu]

2 hours ago, reader said:

 

Move Forward’s secretary-general, Chaithawat Tulathon, told the media that the partnership between Pheu Thai and the junta-linked parties, among others, to form the coalition government does not end the political divide, characterized by the red and yellow groups, but is collusion to extend the junta’s political system.

 

he is right but unfortunately it's how politics work. Even Churchill offered to say few polite words about Lucipher in case hell would be invaded by Hitler.

I have feeling time is on Move Forward side and as Peter mentioned above Thai population did not forget who they voted for and why

[fedssocr]

exactly. The speculation a couple of months ago was that ultimately this would be good for MF in the next election. I think that's true. As long as the people in charge don't manage to come up with some ludicrous reason to dissolve the party and bar all of its members from politics for 10 years or some other big number. This current case at the CC could very well be the vehicle to accomplish that. Whether that brings large numbers to the streets or not will be the key. MF needs to build some more experience in parliament.

I also wonder if the Charter re-write has any chance of happening now. PT claimed they were going to go ahead with it, but it may not be so easy to do given who they are in bed with