Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (centre) engages in earnest discussions with fellow Pheu Thai Party members as they traverse a flood-ravaged area in Sukhothai on Friday. (Photo: Sukhothai public relations office)
Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s return to the culinary arena on Friday was more than just a photogenic venture; it was a bold assertion of her newfound recipe for governance. With the gas flame confidently lit in the kitchen, the prime minister announced that the ingredients for her new cabinet had also been chosen and were simmering towards perfection. During her visit to the inundated lands of Sukhothai, she joined forces with the renowned Chef Chumpol Jaengprai in Muang district, setting the stage for an impressive display of resilience and solidarity.
“Is the flame on?” she queried with purposeful intent, making sure every detail was spot-on before commencing the preparation of pad kaprao with nuea khokhun, a dish graced by premium beef. The intention was clear: to provide hearty meals for local residents bearing the brunt of the flooding.
Taking no chances, she instructed the reporters, “Hold your microphone near the cylinder so you can hear the sound of the flame.” This was a cautious step to dispel any doubts lingering from her previous culinary appearance in Nan, where social media detectives had questioned the authenticity of her cooking due to an allegedly absent flame in the photos. The Pheu Thai Party clarified that the substantial size of the wok had obscured the flame from view.
Sukhothai marked the second province visited by the determined prime minister in response to the severe floodings.
During the interaction with reporters, Ms. Paetongtarn provided an update on the progress of her cabinet formation. She confidently stated that the list of candidates had been finalized, and the verification of their qualifications was in progress.
The Democrat Party’s recent decision to join the coalition government on Thursday provided a crucial boost, resulting in a coalition with a comfortable majority of 322 votes in the 500-member House of Representatives. Ms. Paetongtarn acknowledged that the alliance with the Democrats brought robust stability to the government, highlighting their shared commitment to resolving the nation’s challenges.
Moreover, she hinted that the cabinet list was poised for submission for royal endorsement as early as next week.
As the new government steadies itself, all appointed cabinet members will have to make a formal oath of allegiance. In tandem, the prime minister is required to present the government’s policies to Parliament officially, completing the foundational processes necessary to begin administering the country effectively.
Did anyone else notice how Paetongtarn uses these dramatic PR stunts while people are still dealing with serious flooding?
Exactly! It feels like she’s more interested in headlines than actually helping people.
But what if these ‘PR stunts’ are the best way she has found to raise awareness about the issues? Don’t knock it if it’s working.
Raising awareness should come second to actually fixing the problem. Showing up isn’t the same as solving the flooding issue.
Cooking meals for flood victims seems pretty hands-on to me. At least she’s there making a difference instead of just talking!
Maybe, but does one meal change the structural issues causing the floods? It’s like using a band-aid for a broken leg.
Exactly! Sustainable solutions are what’s needed, not temporary patches.
Her forming a coalition with the Democrats is the real win here. It brings much-needed stability to the government.
Stability is subjective. What will this alliance bring in terms of real policy changes?
Good point. I hope they focus on meaningful reforms rather than just power-sharing.
Coalitions can bring diverse perspectives, but they also often result in watered-down policies. We’ll see.
But isn’t it better to have some stability rather than a government that’s constantly bickering?
Stability should not come at the expense of compromising on important principles.
Right. A stable but ineffective government isn’t much better than chaos.
Focusing on the flame issue is such a distraction. People are struggling. Let’s talk about that!
Totally agree! Who cares if the flame was real or not?
Exactly. The media focus on the dumbest things sometimes.
Actually, it matters. It shows whether she’s genuine or just putting on a show.
Did the Democrat Party really have no other choice but to join her coalition? Sounds desperate.
Maybe they genuinely believe in her vision for the country.
Skeptical. It’s all about power consolidation.
I’m just happy someone is doing something about the flood victims. Kudos to Paetongtarn.
But do you think this will lead to long-term change?
I hope so. It’s a start at least.
Skeptical here. These are often one-off actions that don’t result in substantial change.
Paetongtarn should focus more on policy than PR. Effective governance needs real strategies.
But maybe the PR helps pave the way for those policies by gaining public support?
True, but it needs to be balanced.
Honestly, it’s like a circus. Politicians should get real, instead of these photo-ops.
How many times do politicians need to show up during a disaster before people realize it’s the system that needs fixing?
True. Systemic change over appearances any day.
Exactly. A bunch of photo-ops won’t save homes.
Can we talk about how the government will actually address the root causes of the flooding?
All these PR stunts won’t mean anything if the cabinet she’s forming won’t take meaningful action.
Joining forces with a chef seems a bit novel but gimmicky. Is this what politics has come to?
It’s a creative way to engage people. Not everything needs to be so serious!
Even if it’s just PR, it’s better than doing nothing.
I think she’s trying to show that she’s different from traditional politicians. Will it work? Who knows?
What about the PM’s cabinet list? I hope it includes real experts, not just political allies.
I wish more leaders would be as proactive as Paetongtarn, even if it’s just for the cameras.