How do you describe someone who is seen as having become the country’s top executive by sheer luck?  An MP of the Move Forward Party believes he has just the right term for it — and yet not everyone agrees with him.

Siriroj Thanikkul, a Move Forward MP, took at a swipe at Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on the second day of the debate on the government’s policy statement, describing him as “a windfall prime minister.”

Siriroj was criticizing the policy statement which he said was void of specific direction in improving the welfare of manual workers.  He also blasted Srettha for not living up to the promises his Pheu Thai Party made in the election campaign.

“Did your party make empty promises just to win votes?” he asked before adding “You are supposed to act like the prime minister of the people, not a windfall prime minister.”

The remarks triggered a prompt response from Sarasnant Annopporn of Pheu Thai Party who demand an immediate retraction from Siriroj.   The Move Forward MP remained adamant before the debate moved on.

The description “windfall prime minister” stems from the circumstances in which Srettha became prime minister after the general election in May.  Srettha, a businessman-turned-politician, was not seen as the first choice for prime minister after his Pheu Thai Party ended up second to Move Forward Party.

However, after Move Forward failed to get enough parliamentary support for its leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become prime minister, Pheu Thai replaced it as the core of a coalition and successfully had its prime minister candidate Srettha endorsed by the Parliament.