Prayut appeals for more time at the helm

  • Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has appealed to the public to let him stay on in power to “continue laying the foundations for the country”, though he gave no indication of how long he intends to remain at the helm.
  • He urged the public not to lose hope in him or his government.
  • Speaking to reporters after 30 Jan 18’s cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said the government hopes to lay a firm foundation for the country’s future prosperity but it is up to future administrations to decide how to carry the torch.
  • Despite a growing belief that the national election will be postponed from Nov 18 to Feb 19, Gen Prayut insisted he would stick to the road map. Responding to criticism that he is failing to honour his promise, Gen Prayut said he had merely promised to improve people’s lives and make them happier. However, he said, it is impossible to keep everyone happy at this stage in the game.
  • Asked to comment on his government’s declining popularity, he said he has witnessed considerable conflict since the 2014 coup, with many people calling for change.
  • The premier also addressed rumours that anti-coup groups are galvanising against the government over the 90-day poll delay. Gen Prayut said it was only natural for a government that has run a country for nearly four years to face problems. The harder it works, the more problems it faces, he said.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1404614/prayut-appeals-for-more-time-at-the-helm

31-Jan-2018