“OUTSIDER”
A devoted fan of English soccer club Liverpool who peppers his social media accounts with pictures of dogs, Srettha literally looms over his party colleagues, at a height of 1.92m.
His transition from business to the prime minister’s office mirrors that of Thaksin, who made his fortune in telecommunications before becoming what he called the “CEO prime minister”.
The military ousted Thaksin in a 2006 coup and a government led by his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2014.
For Srettha, being a political neophyte has benefits but also possible costs, analysts and people who know him say.
A party colleague and two business associates described Srettha as a straight talker who won’t be afraid to speak his mind.
“He hasn’t really adapted to become a politician,” one of the business associates said. “So many politicians don’t feel comfortable around him, they’re afraid they can’t control or influence him.”
While he might be unencumbered by old political obligations, at the same time he lacks a political support base both within the party and the broader public.
This has led to questions about to what extent Srettha can be his own man, especially with the looming figure of Thaksin now back from self-exile and, to some extent anyway, back on the scene.
“Srettha is a political outsider,” said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of the faculty of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University.
“His business connection and experience may help his management style and boost economic policies but there is a question whether he is totally independent of Thaksin.”