VOA慢速英语2023--Wealthy Developer Is Thai's New Prime Minister

Wealthy Developer Is Thai's New Prime Minister

Srettha Thavisin is Thailand's new prime minister after winning a parliamentary vote Tuesday.

He is the wealthy leader of one of Thailand's best-known property companies. He was elected prime minister just nine months after joining Pheu Thai, a political party known for supporting the poor.

Parliament confirmed the 61-year-old Srettha, ending months of political uncertainty¹ following May elections. He will lead the Pheu Thai party's push to improve the economy and lessen² inequality.

Pheu Thai finished second to the Move Forward Party in the May elections. But the party was able to group together an 11-party coalition³, including two pro-military parties, to approve Srettha.

"I will perform my duties to the best of my ability. I will work tirelessly to improve the livelihood⁴ of all Thais," Srettha told reporters at Pheu Thai's headquarters.

Hours before Tuesday's parliamentary vote, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister and founder⁵ of Pheu Thai, returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile. Supporters greeted Thaksin who then began serving an eight-year prison sentence on corruption⁶ charges.

Thaksin, who was ousted⁷ by the military in 2006, dismissed the charges as being influenced by politics. Observers believe that Srettha's appointment was related to Thaksin's return and that it might help shorten his jail time.

Political newcomer

Earlier this year, Srettha stepped down as head of his family's company, Sansiri. Sansiri is one of Thailand's largest developers with property worth over $2.9 billion.

Srettha was born into a wealthy family. And some thought he would not be able to connect with Pheu Thai's main voters in the country's poorer, rural north. But after joining the party, he appeared at many campaign events targeting the working class.

Before starting his political career, Srettha was a major critic of the outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Prayuth was an army leader who led the coup⁸ against another Pheu Thai government led by Thaksin's sister Yingluck in 2014.

Srettha was among many opposition⁹ politicians, thought leaders and activists¹⁰ questioned by Prayuth's military government shortly after the coup.

He wrote many online posts accusing Prayuth and his government of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. Srettha earned support during student-led protests demanding democratic reforms in 2020.

Srettha became an adviser¹¹ for Pheu Thai's economic team to promote the party's policies. That includes a plan to give 10,000 baht, about $290, in digital money to all Thais age 16 and above.

Thaskin's controversial return

Thaksin is still loved and hated in equal measure in Thailand. Hundreds of his supporters gathered at the airport, the court and outside the prison to greet his return. They wore red shirts, carried signs and chanted "PM Thaksin."

Thaksin was a former policeman who started a successful business selling computers. As prime minister, he won the hearts and votes of millions of Thais in rural areas with giveaways like money, loans, farm support and healthcare.

But his huge popularity and support for new capitalism¹² put him in conflict with the military, businesses, and royal supporters. It started a political battle that is still being played out today.

Words in This Story

livelihood — n. a way of earning money in order to live

exile — n. a situation in which you are forced to leave your country or home and go to live in a foreign country

coup — n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence

mishandle — v. to deal with or manage badly or incorrectly

 

capitalism — n. a way of organizing an economy so that the things that are used to make and transport products are owned by individual people and companies rather than by the government

1 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

2 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

8 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

12 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。