Thailand's new prime minister loves Barry Manilow

Posted By Blake Hounshell Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 10:31 AM Share

Seth Mydans profiles Abhisit Vejjajiva, the dapper new prime minister of Thailand. Apparently, he is a Barry Manilow fan:

Critics say Mr. Abhisit is handsome, articulate and well mannered but lacks the hearty touch of successful Thai politicians. They joke that he would need a visa to travel to the rural heartland of the north and the northeast. [...]
But his cultural divide from the heartland may be difficult to breach. Asked last year about his likes and dislikes, he said that his favorite book was "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Camus and that he was a devotee of the singer Barry Manilow, whose voice is rarely heard in rural Thailand.

Photo: PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:SOUTHEAST ASIA, POLITICS

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KIDZIB

1:13 PM ET

December 16, 2008

judgement check...

do u really think it's appropriate to be plugging this guy? he just took power in a coup. his supporters refuse to accept the consequences of a lost election. he stands against democracy in all respects. he wants to make a majority of the seats in the thai parliament appointed rather than elected positions. he is a rat, and i could care less what books he reads or music he listens to. he doesn't deserve any press from FP or elsewhere.

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