Thailand`s king swears in new PM and cabinet

Thailand's new Prime Minister Sretha Thavisin's government has been sworn in. They recited the oath to King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Tuesday.

In her inaugural address in Bangkok shortly after Prime Minister Sretha swore in her and her 33-member cabinet, she promised it would be 'a government for the people'. BBC news

The 61-year-old real estate tycoon was elected by Thai lawmakers on August 22 following a nomination by the Phew Thai Party. The party is the most recent outgrowth of the political movement created by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was popular among Thailand's rural poor for policies such as universal health care and cash payments to farmers.

Srethar's nomination ends a political stalemate that has existed since the progressive Move Forward Party and its coalition partners won parliamentary elections in May.

Thaksin returned to Bangkok from self-imposed exile on Srethar's election day, two years after Thaksin was ousted by a military allied with members of Thailand's pro-monarchist elite. Thailand's pro-monarchist elites see Thaksin as a threat to their long-standing hold on the social order.

He surrendered to the police. Thailand's Supreme Court sentenced him to eight years in prison based on a previous conviction on corruption charges. The king reduced Thaksin's sentence to one year last Friday.

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