Thai King endorses new Prime Minister

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Prime Minister of the country on August 18, two days after her election by the House of Representatives.

New Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra at a press conference following the appointment ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 18, 2024

The King's approval, a formality, was read out by Secretary of the House of Representatives Apat Sukhanand at a ceremony in Bangkok, paving the way for the formation of a cabinet in coming weeks.

As reported by the Bangkok Post, at the ceremony, the 37-year-old knelt in homage to a portrait of the King before giving a short speech thanking him and the people's representatives for endorsing her as Prime Minister.

She promised to do her duty to the best of her ability, show loyalty to the royal institution and act with honesty for the utmost benefit of the public and the nation.

The country’s youngest PM said that in the remaining three years of the House term, she, as head of the executives, would cooperate with the legislature with an open mind to develop the nation.

“I, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as the prime minister, will do my duty to the best of my ability and make Thailand the country of equal opportunity and happiness for all fellow Thai people,” the premier declared as quoted by the Bangkok Post./.

VNA