I won’t have nominee PM after election, says Prayut

PRIME Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha stressed yesterday that he would have no nominee to be the next PM after the general election.

“After the election, I’ll simply take care of my grandchildren at home,” Prayut said in an interview with Voice of America’s (VOA) Thai Service. 

“I want to take a rest. Although many people want me to stay on, can I really do that? It’d be just wrong if I say yes.” 

The country will certainly hold the next election by the middle of next year, he reiterated.

Prayut is currently on a trip to the United States to attend a nuclear-security summit.

He complained, however, that Thailand was still “misunderstood” by the international community, saying that reporters focus only on democracy and human-rights concerns. 

In his weekly national TV address “Return Happiness to People in the Country” last night, Prayut repeated that there were people trying to attack the government by using the terms “democracy” and “human rights”.

“If you break the law, you cannot justify impunity by simply saying that your rights are being violated,” he said. “There is no common sense in that.” 

The government has harmed no one so far, he said, explaining that the regime had only asked some people for “a talk” if their actions were merely based on misunderstandings.

“Despite this, a number of people have been called in many times based on repeat offences, so it is rather clear that they have deliberately taken this course,” he said. “That’s why it is necessary to talk to these people.” 

The junta has also given opportunities to people with different views to make positive changes in the draft constitution, he said.

“However, they refused to do so and keep on breaking the law, fleeing the country, and creating misunderstanding,” he said. “Let me ask the public this, what would happen if these people were to be elected at the next general election?”

The prime minister said he was also worried that the Kingdom could return to political turmoil if political-related policies being implemented by the junta are not unsuccessful. 

However, he told VOA that he was not worried about the current situation because all parties had to follow orders issued by the National Council for Peace and Order, adding that the orders were always rightful and legitimate.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam also insisted yesterday that an election would be held next year after the endorsement of four organic laws essential for holding the election. 

The organic laws need to be considered by the National Legislative Assembly and the Constitutional Court before being submitted for royal endorsement, he explained, adding that he would try to accelerate all processes.

However, Wissanu did not promise that the election could certainly be held in July next year.