Junior politician’ Prayut taught lesson by Mingkwan

While Prayut was delivering the government’s policy statement on Thursday, New Economics Party leader Mingkwan Saegnsuwan waited until the prime minister had finished reading the 35-page statement before he rose to embarrass Prayut by telling him that he omitted the most important part - the first paragraph.

Mingkwan noted that Prayut must first inform the parliament that he has been appointed by His Majesty the King before he could deliver the policy statement in the chamber.

“The prime minster skipped the first paragraph, which is important. He must first inform the parliament that he has been appointed the prime minister by a royal command and that his Cabinet members have also been appointed by a royal command. The prime minister did not state this,” Mingkwan argued.

“So, I would like to ask the prime minister whether he wants the policy debate completed in accordance with the constitution or not. We don’t know in what capacity he was speaking. He must declare the status of the prime minister and cabinet before he can talk about the policies.”

Prayut rose to reply saying: “Actually, I am an inexperienced politician - an inexperienced one whom you noted didn’t read that part. I thought it’s in the document that you have read. I don’t understand this procedure. I regard it as an honour for me to be reminded. Thank you for your advice. I am the most junior politician among you in term of experience.”

Prayut then started reading the first paragraph that informed the Parliament that he was appointed by the King on June 9 and that his cabinet was appointed the next day before he ended his reading of the policy statement.