Occasional fresh starts are wise
A lot of people seem to be concerned about the possibility that General Prayut Chan-o-cha might return as prime minister after the election.
Since the general has already ruled longer than most elected civilian rulers, I guess they are nervous that he’ll get to like it a little too much and end up becoming a fixture, like Vladimir Putin in Russia and Hun Sen in Cambodia.
One thing the Americans got right was limiting the number of terms a president can serve to two. That means they’re only saddled with a complete dud for a maximum of eight years. Perhaps term limits should be the case here, too.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, and continuity and stability are assured by the presence of the King and the royal family.
The prime ministry is a very demanding job and, as many people in business will tell you, you can only stay at the top of your game for so long. A new leader means fresh ideas and innovation and avoids the impression that the person at the top is in it for himself (or herself) rather than for the good of the nation.
Brian D
