24-8-2023 (BANGKOK) The newly appointed Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, paid a courtesy visit to his predecessor, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Government House on Thursday. The meeting was intended for Mr. Srettha to seek advice and guidance as he assumes his role as the country’s 30th prime minister.
Prime Minister Srettha, a member of the Pheu Thai Party and former property tycoon, arrived at Government House around 11:05 am, following his royal endorsement on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Pol Col Wathanyu Watcharapalothai, a former police guard who served under the administration of fugitive former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the leader of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party and secretary-general to the outgoing premier, was also present during the meeting.
The encounter was anticipated to last approximately 40 to 45 minutes, according to a source.
Srettha Thavisin secured his position as the new prime minister on Tuesday when a joint sitting of the House and the Senate elected him with 482 votes in favor, 165 votes against, and 81 abstentions. Most of the votes against Mr. Srettha came from the Move Forward Party (MFP), which had won the May 14 general election but faced obstacles in getting its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, approved.
While Mr. Srettha has not been overtly political, he has maintained close ties with former Prime Ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, both influential figures in the Pheu Thai Party. Notably, Mr. Srettha expressed strong opposition to the anti-government movement led by Suthep Thaugsuban and the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) during Yingluck’s administration.
Following the 2014 military coup led by Gen Prayut, Mr. Srettha was among several prominent figures who were ordered to report for “attitude adjustment.”
