Prayut relaxed about pressure on new government in coming debate

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha displayed a carefree attitude on Wednesday when asked about the pressure his new government could expect to face when its policies are outlined to parliament on Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, police have ordered a 50-metre off-limits area around the TOT building in northern Bangkok that have been used as a makeshift parliament house, on Thursday and Friday. The building will be cordoned off to prevent possible disturbances either from supporters or opponents of the government.

Prayut said he was not worried about the upcoming event, insisting that it was a new premiership and a new government. “There is always the right and the left, agreements and disagreements on all issues. This is democracy,” he said.

The PM added that he had already met with ministers who were likely to be targeted by the opposition, especially in the education and transport portfolios. Responding to criticism that the government’s policies were too broad, he suggested his opponents needed to better understand the word.

“The term ‘policies’, if they understand it, then there will be no problem,” he added.

Prayut said he had not decided whether to join the Palang Pracharat Party (PPP), as Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan did few days ago.

He also shrugged off criticism in the media and by opponents about the government’s choice of a resort in Nakhan Ratchasima province as the venue of the PPP meeting that is facing a police investigation on land encroachment. He said a parallel probe by the Natural Resources Ministry was already underway.