BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin discussed overcoming political divisions on Thursday with the predecessor who ousted his party's last government, as he prepares to pick a cabinet from a crowded 11-party alliance that includes fierce rivals.
Srettha sailed through a parliamentary vote to become premier on Tuesday and will head a tricky coalition that includes parties backed by a royalist military that has repeatedly manoeuvred against his Pheu Thai Party.
His meeting with the outgoing premier and former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha underscores a fragile detente in Thai politics, with Prayuth the architect of a 2014 coup against the last Pheu Thai government. Prayuth stayed in charge for nine years.
"Existing divisions will be difficult to overcome. One conversation will not finish it off. It will take time," said Srettha, wearing a yellow necktie, the colour associated with the monarchy.
"I understand his intentions, that he wants to overcome divisions and he cares about the country."
Asked by reporters what advice Prayuth gave, he said "for me to be calm, be patient and protect the nation and monarchy."
Real estate tycoon Srettha was thrust into politics just a few months ago and has no experience in government.
TESTY RELATIONSHIPS
Speculation has been rife that his surprisingly smooth ascent to the top job is part of a secret deal between warring elites in Thailand that included Tuesday's dramatic homecoming of Pheu Thai's billionaire figurehead, Thaksin Shinawatra, after 15 years in self-exile.
Thaksin, 74, was hospitalised with high blood pressure on his first night in prison, where he is serving an eight-year sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest.
Thaksin and Pheu Thai have denied the existence of a deal with their rivals in the military and conservative establishment.
Prayuth, who has a testy relationship with the Shinawatra family, told Srettha healing rifts was important.
"The country must move on and the new government should look into this," Prayuth told reporters.
Srettha has the difficult task of forming and holding together a potentially fragile coalition that includes rival camps with a history of betrayal, raising the prospect of internal challenges that could complicate policymaking.
Thailand has gone through two decades of on-off political instability including two coups and intermittent bouts of street demonstrations, broadly pitting the Shinawatras and their business allies against conservatives and old money families.
The media has also been speculating about who will get the key cabinet posts, some suggesting Srettha himself would take on the additional role of finance minister.
The new government will then have to deliver their policy objectives to a joint session of parliament before they can start work in late September.
The new administration faces the crucial task of reviving Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which the central bank forecast will grow at just under 3.6% this year.
Reuters
Thu Aug 24 2023
Thailand's new PM Srettha Thavisin meets with caretaker former PM Prayuth Chan-ocha at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand August 24, 2023. - Government House/via REUTERS
Imigresen Kelantan dakwa 15 pendatang di Mahkamah Sesyen Khas
Kesemua pendatang yang berusia antara 19 hingga 48 tahun itu ditangkap dalam Op Kutip sekitar Kota Bharu dan Bachok pada 3 Mei.
Semakan lengkap industri pertengahan kewangan sedang dijalankan - BNM
Kajian semula yang lebih menyeluruh terhadap industri pengantara kewangan sedang dijalankan, kata Penolong Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia.
Piala FA 2024: Laluan mudah buat juara bertahan JDT
Melalui undian, JDT dilihat meraih lawan mudah dengan mengetuai 12 lagi pasukan Liga Super serta tiga pasukan daripada Liga A1 Semi Pro.
Dua wanita cedera, kereta terbalik dalam longkang di Lebuhraya WCE
Empat mangsa dalam kereta itu merupakan dua wanita dewasa, seorang lelaki dewasa dan seorang kanak-kanak perempuan.
Menteri China, Liu Jianchao bertemu pegawai kanan PKR diketuai Nurul Izzah
Malaysia sangat mementingkan hubungan dengan China dan pencapaian luar biasa China dalam pembangunan ekonomi dan sosial amat mengagumkan.
Polis minta bantuan kesan Safiea Dania, hilang lepas naik e-hailing
Kali terakhir ditemui adalah pada 24 April jam 6.35 petang, ketika dia menggunakan perkhidmatan e-hailing untuk ke tempat kerja.
AirAsia dipilih rakan penerbangan rasmi Sidang Kemuncak Malaysia-China 2024
Sidang kemuncak itu adalah peluang strategik untuk meningkatkan hubungan perdagangan, pelaburan dan kebudayaan Malaysia.
SC pelawa permohonan untuk Program Kepimpinan investED 2024
Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia mempelawa permohonan untuk kohort kedua Program Kepimpinan investED, sebuah program siswazah pasaran modal.
Pusat Latihan TFC dipasang CCTV
Hishamuddin berkata langkah itu diambil selepas perbincangan lanjut dengan pihak polis yang masih giat memburu suspek samun berkenaan.
Bonus 8 bulan bakal diterima kakitangan Singapore Airlines
Para pekerja Singapora Airlines akan mendapat bonus 32 minggu atau bersamaan sekitar 7.94 bulan gaji pokok.
Thailand senarai semula ganja sebagai narkotik
Kementerian Kesihatan diminta untuk meminda peraturan dan menyenaraikan semula ganja sebagai narkotik.
Thailand: Enam muka baharu sertai Kabinet Srettha
Perdana Menteri Thailand Srettha Thavisin melantik enam menteri kabinet baharu.
Thailand, 17 lagi negara gesa pembebasan segera tawanan di Gaza
Pemimpin 18 negara dalam satu kenyataan bersama menggesa pembebasan segera semua tawanan termasuk warganegara mereka sendiri yang ditahan Hamas di Gaza.
PM Thailand minta bank tawar kadar faedah lebih rendah untuk bantu ekonomi
Kumpulan terdedah seperti PKS mempunyai masalah dengan kadar faedah yang tinggi, tegas Srettha Thavisin.
PM Srettha bakal lawat tiga wilayah di selatan Thailand
Perdana Menteri Thailand Srettha Thavisin dijadual melawat tiga wilayah di selatan iaitu Pattani, Yala dan Narathiwat untuk mempromosikan pelancongan selain merangsang ekonomi tempatan.
PM Thailand ikrar bawa Taylor Swift, artis gred A ke Thailand
Kenyataan itu dibuat selepas berita Taylor Swift hanya akan singgah di Singapura, satu-satunya destinasi Asia Tenggara dalam The Eras Tour.
Thailand rancang perkenal visa Muay Thai
Kerajaan Thailand sedia menawarkan individu yang berminat untuk mempelajari Muay Thai dengan visa khas 90 hari (berbanding visa standard 60 hari).
Thailand, AirAsia bincang tambah perjalanan udara
Thailand merancang menambah penerbangan keluar dan masuk yang menghubungkan bandar utama dan bandar lain bagi merangsang ekonomi.
Parlimen Thailand lulus belanjawan 3.48 trillion baht
Bajet 2024 Thailand bertujuan merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi berjaya menempuh halangan pertama di Parlimen pada malam Jumaat, selepas tertangguh akibat kebuntuan politik selama tiga bulan.
PM Thailand janji perkukuh hubungan di sempadan Thailand-Malaysia
Perdana Menteri Srettha Thavisin mahu mengeratkan hubungan Thailand-Malaysia melalui kerjasama yang dipertingkatkan.