Thailand’s next PM Anutin reaffirms promise to hold fresh election
New leader Anutin Charnvirakul says parliament is expected to be dissolved in four months, and will form his cabinet as soon as possible
Thailand’s next prime minister on Saturday pledged to make good on his promise to lead the fractured interim government to new polls.
Conservative tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul was confirmed by parliament on Friday, ending a week-long power vacuum following the ousting of his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The construction magnate cobbled together a coalition of opposition blocs to shut out Pheu Thai, the electoral vehicle of the once-dominant Shinawatra dynasty’s patriarch Thaksin.
Anutin received the backing of the People’s Party, which holds a plurality of seats, on conditions that he recommitted to on Saturday.
“I think we are clear in terms of politics that we are going to dissolve the parliament in four months,” he said during a meeting at his party headquarters broadcast by Thai media.
“I will try to form my cabinet as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the foreign minister and energy minister were already confirmed.