In other countries foreign born individuals are prohibited by their constitutions from becoming president or prime minister of their own country.Apparently this prohibition does not apply to Thailand. A few days ago, a foreign born individual was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.
His name is Abhisit Vijjajiva, the youngest prime minister to be appointed in Thailand in the last 60 years. Abhisit was born in Newcastle England 44 years ago to a Chinese-Thai couple. He was educated in England from grade school to college. His early education was spent at Eton, one of England’s top private schools. He later went to Oxford for his economics degree.
After college he went back to his roots in Thailand and joined the political mainstream to become the leader of the Democratic Party. He was unpopular before his appointment as he never won an election during his affiliation with the party.
Although Abhisit has spent most of his adult life in local politics, he may not have the necessary preparation to head a country whose fragile democracy is continuously being challenged by the radical left. His critics say that his tenure as the country’s new prime minister may not last as he lacks the necessary preparation for the job. He is also criticized by his political enemies, saying that his policies are borrowed heavily from Thaksin, the former prime minister of Thailand who is presently in exile.
Most of Abhisit’s supporters are coming from the middle class who are the educated members of Thai society.
Bunranaj Smutharak, spokesman for the Democratic Party said, “He needs to send a clear signal of change that he is a leader who will reach out to all. We are confident that the long turmoil during the past two years will be brought to an end by this change in government. What we set out to do is reunite the country”, he added.
Thailand has just ended a regime that drew unpopular support from the people of Thailand for alleged corruption in government under former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat who the people claimed was the puppet of former Prime Minister Thaksin.
The government of Somchai Wongsawat was dissolved or brought down by a constitutional court order declaring their party won the last election through fraudulent means.