Prayut denies political deal with powerful Nakhon Pathom family
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has denied he had a political deal with a political family in Nakhon Pathom after a photo of him with politicians from the family was posted on social media.
“I insist that I have no deal with anyone. My duty today is to stabilise the country but in the future it’s your choice to choose which party you want to stay with. Either with the government-led party or the opposition camp,” the premier said on Friday.
Prayut was responding to a photo posted on the Facebook account of Pheu Thai key figure Watana Muangsuk on Thursday which showed Prayut and Deputy PM Chatchai Sarikulya posing with siblings from the Sasomsub family which has a strong political base in Nakhon Pathom.
Four siblings from the family are in the photo – Padermchai, Chaiyos, Anucha and Chaiya Sasomsub. They are politicians of Pheu Thai Party.
Watana did not post a caption or the date the photo was taken.
Prayut said he could not remember when he met the Sasomsub family, but said that he went to play golf at a golf course in the province. The family members were already there and maybe the course owner, too, he said.
“If I want to make a deal I would have done it secretly and not in a crowded location,” he said.
Asked if the photo was a coincidence given the reports about a party being founded to support his continuing as prime minister after the next election, Prayut pleaded with the public to not be “so paranoid”.
He said many people ask him to pose for a photo with them and he could not refuse their request.
“I can go anywhere and am ready to meet anyone,” he said. “You should not think it is deal making. Otherwise, I could have not gone anywhere.”
He added that as there are currently no politicians, he has to visit and take care of people in the provinces.