The chosen slogan that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has adopted for his administration is “Chance of Possibility.” In English it is an awkward slogan, to say the least. In Thai it is slightly better: “this is the opportunity for every possibility.” 

In his first few months, however, one possibility has seemed to have little opportunity to become true: that Srettha would be able to make a breakthrough in public opinion. The prime minister came to office essentially without a honeymoon period. The protracted and unseemly process in which his party had to deny Move Forward’s claim to power ensured that Srettha would not emerge unscathed from these proceedings. 

It was unsurprising, then, that Srettha and the Pheu Thai Party would focus their recent report on Srettha’s first 60 days in office on a series of “quick wins.” Energy bills were quickly lowered, reduced train tickets were trialled, Visa-free travel for more foreign nationals was implemented to jumpstart tourism.

Many of these quick wins to alleviate financial burden were important, to be sure, although the sustainability of some of these policies in the long-run are questionable. But Srettha is already arriving at a new challenge of his own making: the 10,000 baht handout policy that the Pheu Thai Party had trumpeted as its signature policy pledge during the election.

Click here to read the full piece at Thai Enquirer.