Srettha Thavisin, a former property tycoon and a political newcomer, is set to take a shot at becoming Thailand’s next prime minister in a vote scheduled on Tuesday that may help resolve a monthslong political impasse.
While backed by a coalition of populist and conservative parties, Srettha’s fate rests on the military-appointed Senate, whose 250 members vote in a joint assembly with 500 elected lawmakers. Srettha came into the race after earlier premiership bids by Pita Limjaroenrat of Move Forward Party, which won the most popular votes in the May 14 election, was blocked by senators last month.
An avid soccer player and a fan of Liverpool FC in the English Premier League, Srettha was a driving force behind Sansiri Academy, which trains aspiring local players. The six-foot-three Srettha is married to Pakpilai Thavisin, a specialist in anti-aging medicine. They have three children. While Pheu Thai’s alliance is now supported by 274 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Srettha will need the simple majority of the 750-member joint assembly to become prime minister.Should Srettha fail to muster enough votes, Pheu Thai can nominate one of its two other candidates — Paetongtarn or Chaikasem.
While the allegations pose no immediate threat to Srettha’s ambition, he may come under scrutiny ahead of the PM vote.In an interview with Bloomberg earlier this year, Srettha said he wants to stimulate the economy that’s lagging the growth of its neighbors and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. He was the one to unveil Pheu Thai’s “digital wallet” scheme that would give every Thai who is 16 years old and above 10,000 baht each.
With Pheu Thai joining hands with a party backed by former junta leader Prayuth, who was responsible for overthrowing a previous Shinawatra-led government, Srettha must ensure his party’s base isn’t eroded. His government will also need to deliver on a promise to quickly rewrite the constitution to make Thailand more democratic.Srettha and Pheu Thai are likely to be perceived favorably by investors, given their pledge to stimulate the economy through state spending.
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