Prayut picked as new PM of Thailand

BANGKOK - Thailand's current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was elected as the new prime minister of the country, President of the National Assembly Chuan Leekpai announced late on Wednesday.

Prayut was elected to serve a second term by a vote of 500 to 244 for his opponent, Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Prayut, a former army commander, was the candidate of the Palang Pracharath Party, which holds 116 House seats, as well as lawmakers from smaller parties. Prayut's appointment becomes official when it is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

One only needed a minimum of 375 votes from among a current total of 748 legislators in the House of Representatives and Senate combined to win a simple majority and became the prime minister following the March 24 election.

Prayut, who has run the country since 2014, was heading a meager majority government under a 19-party coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party.

He is yet to set up a cabinet in which a maximum of 36 persons including himself can be named ministers.

The Palang Pracharath Party that nominated Prayut won the second-highest number of seats in the House of Representatives in a general election in March. But his selection was virtually assured because the prime minister is chosen in a joint vote of the 500-seat House and the 250-seat Senate. Two House seats were vacant due to a suspension and resignation.

Prayut made no immediate public comment on the vote.

An open-ended parliamentary debate, with the two sides touting the merits of their candidate and the weaknesses of their opponent, pushed Wednesday's vote late into the night. The official result was announced just before midnight.

During the debate, Palang Pracharath lawmaker Koranis Ngamsukonrattana praised Prayut for his character and his vision.

"He's patient and sacrificed himself so much for the country," he said. "He's the savior who came in and saved the country when all hope was lost."

Xinhua - AP

(China Daily Global 06/07/2019 page4)