Prayut allays fears over charter provision
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PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged the public not to envision anything insidious in the draft charter's provision for a non-elected PM.
“Everyone is suspicious that it is me. I have said that I will certainly not be in that situation,” he said.
“The charter writers wrote that a non-elected PM is allowed if there are so many conflicts that the government cannot function or a general election cannot be held,’’ he said.
The Cabinet wants to maintain that provision because during the political deadlock, the country could not move on for six months because the government was incapacitated, as it lacked full authority.
There is an idea of finding someone to run the country’s economy and the budget.
“Do not say that I or the NCPO want to continue in power,’’ he said.
The prime minister appeared perturbed when reporters asked about his younger brother, General Preecha, possibly being promoted Army chief to help his administration perpetuate itself in office.
Prayut said he had never given such an order and family ties are not among the criteria for that appointment.
Sources said Prayut called a meeting tomorrow of the Cabinet, National Reform Committee (NRC) and National Legislative Assembly because he feared the reform plans laid down by the NRC did not follow the government’s roadmap.
Prayut wants the NRC to ensure that reform continues to the third stage and can be accomplished by the next government.
If the NRC wants to start all over again, its work up to now would be regarded as a failure, he said.
