SRETTHA Thavisin led the 34 members of his cabinet to take their oaths of office in front of the King of Thailand after he was declared the country’s 30th Prime Minister on August 22.
The parliament named Srettha as the country’s new premier after weeks of delay due to disagreements over the formation of a coalition.
Thailand was embroiled in months of political deadlock after election winner and Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat faced setbacks in being elected as the country’s prime minister.
Pita pledged to amend the constitution and implement changes, particularly in Thailand’s decades-old lese majeste law once he is officially elected as prime minister.
However, the election winner failed to get the necessary votes to win the post and encountered strong opposition from the conservative, military-backed Senate.
The setback forced its strongest ally Pheu Thai Party to break the coalition and form its own which comprises 11 parties.
Srettha was one of the three prime ministerial candidates under Pheu Thai.
In his inaugural address, the 61-year-old real estate tycoon said he would formally unveil his policy agenda next week and pledged to lead a “government for the people”.
The oath-taking ceremony was witnessed by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Thailand’s Queen Suthida at Dusit Palace in Bangkok on Tuesday, September 5.
Aside from being prime minister, Srettha will also serve as the finance minister of Thailand.
Meanwhile, Phue Thai will hold the key post of foreign, defense, commerce, transport and health ministries.