Thai PM-Elect Pledges to Fix Economy
Created: Dec 17 2008
Related articles: World > Asia Pacific
CHAN:
Today Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says he will fix the sagging economy. He shows his support for workers, and vows to help in all areas.
STORY:
In a campaign to show his concern to all groups of Thais, Abhisit met with farmers, tourism operators, laid-off workers and industrialists in Bangkok. It's ahead of a royal endorsement for his premiership.
Forty-four-year-old Abhisit, the Democrat Party leader waas elected by parliament on Monday as the country's third premier in as many months. He says he will continue to help rice farmers cope with falling prices through an intervention plan started by the previous government.
Farmers, who are among Thailand's poor, still support former Prime Minister Thaksin who provided them with healthcare and other benefits..
Abhisit, an Oxford-educated economist is looking for opportunities to fix problems in every sector..
[Abhisit Vejjajiva, PM-Elect]:
"It's really my intention to move ahead of this crisis. We have been stuck in this for two or three years. The problem has been building up for a long time. It seems like we were trying to solve the problem, but we've ended up where we've started."
Abhisit is making reviving the export and tourism-reliant economy his top priority, but he has given no details of his plans.
[Apichart Sangkhaarree, Travel Agent Ass. President]:
"What the government should do is to bring back international confidence immediately. It will help boost Thailand's image that was damaged during the airport shut down. The image which used to show a peaceful country and 'Land of Smiles'. The country that used to be voted as the number one tourist destination. This situation needs to be solved within one to two months."
Abhisit only has a thin majority in parliament, and this is likely to be reduced in January when by-elections are held to replace 29 MPs fired in this months' court ruling.
