Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Thai Government May Beat Legal Threats, But Flagging Economy Looms

Zsombor Peter

   BANGKOK - Less than two months into its term, Thailand's post-junta
   government is fending off a series of challenges to its very existence,
   including a brewing political storm over the Cabinet's failure to
   recite the full oath of office.

   A general election in March returned the 2014 coup leader, Prime
   Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, to power to widespread criticism that his
   military junta had manipulated the contest in its favor. Two months
   later the country crowned a new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn, who has been
   consolidating power around the Royal Palace since the death of his
   father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in 2016. The country's GDP growth rate
   has meanwhile dipped to its lowest level since just after the putsch.

   Analysts expect the country's courts to save Prayut's new
   administration from collapse. They say, though, that a pending fight in
   the lower house of Parliament next week over the botched oath could
   further batter its already bruised image, especially if the economy
   continues to flag.

.