BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's king on Wednesday endorsed incoming prime minister Srettha Thavisin, an official said, paving the way for him to officially assume office later in the day.
Former property mogul Srettha, 61, of the Pheu Thai party long associated with billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, will head a coalition government that controversially includes pro-military parties.
The royal endorsement is expected to be read to Srettha in a ceremony at Pheu Thai headquarters around 6:00 pm , at which point he will officially become prime minister. But its push to reform royal insult laws and take on powerful vested business interests spooked the kingdom's powerful elite and saw leader Pita Limjaroenrat blocked from becoming prime minister.The last two decades of Thai politics have been coloured by the bitter tussle between pro-Thaksin parties and the kingdom's powerful pro-military and royalist establishment.
Officials said he was suffering from multiple health problems, including heart trouble, and needed monitoring in hospital.
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