BANGKOK: Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn has given his approval for Srettha Thavisin to assume the office of the country's prime minister, a spokesperson for the House Speaker said Wednesday.

"The President of the National Assembly has sent a letter to inform the King about the outcome of the prime ministerial election, and the King has already granted approval for the 30th prime minister," Kampee Ditthakorn told a press conference.

The Secretariat of the House of Representatives is scheduled to deliver the royal endorsement to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters at 6 p.m. local time, Xinhua news agency quoted the spokesperson as saying.

Srettha was elected Thailand's new prime minister after winning a joint vote of the bicameral parliament on Tuesday.

The 60-year-old former property tycoon entered the political arena shortly before the May general election and emerged as a prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party.