Srettha Thavisin Elected As The New Prime Minister Of Thailand

Thailand's Parliament on 22 August 2023 voted to elect Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party as the country's new prime minister. This ended a  month-long political deadlock in the country after the recently held inconclusive parliamentary election in May 2023.   

In the parliamentary election held in May 2023 no party was able to secure a majority in the 500 member lower house of Thailand's parliament. The Move Forward  Party (MFP) won 151 seats and Srettha Thavisin’s  Pheu Thai party won 141 seats . 

Formation of Government in Thailand

According to the 2019 Thailand’s constitution a party or a coalition has to get at least 376 votes out of 750 votes in the parliament . Thailand has a bicameral parliament. The parliament in Thailand consists of a 500-member House of Representatives (lower house) and a 250-member Senate (upper house). 

Pheu Thai, which came second in the election, had initially allied itself with the MFP, alongside six other parties. However, it decided earlier in August to seek a new alliance excluding the MFP. Srettha Thavisin  of Pheu Thai now heads a 11-party coalition.

Kingdom of Thailand

Thailand was  earlier called Siam. It is also known as the country of ‘white elephants’.

It is located in South-East Asia.

Elephant is the national animal of Thailand.

It is one of the few countries in Asia which was never under the rule of European colonial powers.   

Currency : Baht

Capital: Bangkok 

King : Vajiralongkorn

Prime Minister : Srettha Thavisin