Yingluck Shinawatra is officially the first female prime minister from today Thailand now that King Bhumibol formally endorsed her candidacy. The parliament already elected the 44-year-old businesswoman and sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday. “Peace and reconciliation” are her top priorities.
"The king has given his approval," parliament speaker Somsak Kiatsuranot said after a meeting with 83-year-old King Bhumibol. During a short ceremony at the headquarters of her Peu Thai party, Yingluck Shinawatra symbolically knelt before a portrait of the monarch. “I will use my knowledge, skills and reason to work hard and with honesty to bring peace, unity and reconciliation to our nation,” she said afterwards.
Four-fifths of her government squad has already been completed. That team – a four-party coalition – will submit them to King Bhumibol for approval within two days. The previous prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, bit the dust in the parliamentary elections at the beginning of July. It was the latest political development since the military coup against Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.
The country is now divided, resulting in many - violent - demonstrations. Thaksin fled abroad after his deposition. Despite the complaints of abuse of power and self-enrichment, the billionaire is still very popular with the poorer part of the population. His supporters are called the Red Shirts. The traditional power elites support Abhisit Vejjajiva. Thaksin is considered the de facto leader of Peu Thai. How the new prime minister will deal with her brother will now have to become clear.
Source: Belga