Thai PM fires back at media over question of his political future

The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha fired back at the media when pressed for an answer about his political future. The PM has said in recent months that he will make an announcement about his political future sometime “in September”. It is widely speculated that he will either join a supportive political party running in the election or make himself available as an ‘unelected PM’ in the case of a parliamentary stalemate where no single party gets a majority of votes in the general election.

“What do you want from me? I said it would be after the issuance of the act (Act on the Election of Members of the Parliament). It can be next year, the year after next. When I want to say it is my business. I will make my own decision. Why should I say it now only to be chided?”

The PM has made the comments at a media conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Gen Prayut has been evasive about how he will decide on his political future. He said recently that he will make a decision “when the time comes”.

Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, meanwhile, reiterated that political parties are still not allowed to engage in election campaigning although political restrictions have been eased by the NCPO.