Latest News on the New Interim Prime Minister

Finally Thailand's Interim PM is announced...here is a news from Bangkok Post, local english language newspaper.

(dpa) - Surayud Chulanont, a respected retired army officer who has served as a Privy Councillor, was sworn in as Thailand's new Prime Minister Sunday.

Soon after the brief swearing-in ceremony, Gen Surayud said he would select his cabinet in the next week and submit the list of names to His Majesty the King for approval.

Gen Surayud said his administration would put first priority on building national unity, put an end to the current political stalemate and the ongoing southern unrest within a year.

In his first media conference shortly after being appointed as interim leader, the former Army chief said that he agreed to take up the position only to address the nation's urgent problems despite his earlier vow that he would stay out of politics.

"On top of my agenda are the urgent issues--the political problems and the southern violence--which require full cooperation from all sectors of society," Gen. Surayud said. "I will pull out all the stops to solve the two pressing issues within one year."

Touching on the economy, the new post-coup premier said he would adhere to the sufficiency economy initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol rather than foster the economic growth based on gross domestic product (GDP) as cherished by his predecessor.

"I will focus on the people's happiness rather than GDP figures," he stressed.

Surayud is Thailand's 24th prime minister since the kingdom became a constitutional monarchy in 1932. But perhaps more important he is the first since 1992 who did not win the position in an election.

Still, he is widely respected by civilian leaders and within the military as honest and not corrupt.

Surayud's appointment comes 13 days after the September 19 coup d'etat that toppled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after five-and-a-half years in power.

General Winai Phattiyakul, secretary general of what is now called the Council for National Security (CNS), the third name in a week for the cabal of military officers who led the bloodless coup, promised the CNS will step aside and let civilians run the country - after a while.

But the CNS under article 14 of the new interim charter is allowed to fire the prime minister without resorting to violence, and will continue to be responsible for considering urgent matters.

The military council said a new general election will be held in late 2007, but that it will only come when a new constitution is in place.

Under the interim 39-article charter a national assembly representing all social sectors will select a constitution-drafting assembly to write a new constitution, the government said. The draft will be put up for public hearing within 45 days after it is completed.

The interim constitution also provides CNS with an amnesty for having staged the coup d'etat, saying that the military leaders will not be held legally accountable for their past actions in toppling the Thaksin administration. (dpa, TNA)

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