Thailand: PM rips Pheu Thai over Thaksin

• Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was locked in a fierce debate with the opposition on the first day of the no-confidence motion as he challenged the Pheu Thai Party to bring two former prime ministers in self-exile abroad back to solve the country’s problems.
• Gen Prayut was responding to accusations made against him by Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew during the censure debate in parliament on 19 Jul 22.
• “As the prime minister, I don’t know everything. I am not good at everything. I am not someone you might say is the cleverest person. But where is he now?” Gen Prayut said, in what was believed to be a jab at fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
• Gen Prayut also defended the government’s performance, saying his government has steered the country hit by one crisis after another toward economic recovery.
• “Everything must be backed by facts and figures. More than 2.2 million tourists have returned, with THB1.25tr in revenue.
• “You don’t want to enlist [the NSC] because you don’t trust the military … The NSC is responsible for overseeing security and deals with new forms of threats to national security,” Gen Prayut said.
• He insisted the government has dug deep into its budget to ease the plight of people affected by economic hardship, solve problems related to household debt, teachers’ debt and find ways to mitigate poverty.
• The prices of crops have been rising and famers are satisfied with this, he said, adding that the loans borrowed by the government benefited people during the pandemic.
• Dr Cholnan took aim at Gen Prayut during the debate, accusing the prime minister of lacking leadership skills.
• He accused Gen Prayut of mishandling the economy, which led to the rising cost of living, and failing to generate revenue for the country.
• “The economy has collapsed. People have become poor across the country. Prices have increased. People have lost hope,” Dr Cholnan said.

External Link : https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2349383/pm-rips-pheu-thai-over-thaksin