Prayuth Declares Himself Politician Who Used To Be A Soldier

[snoop1130]

Prayuth Declares Himself Politician Who Used To Be A Soldier

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

 

BANGKOK — Three and a half years after leading a coup, Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday said he was now a politician who was formerly a soldier.

 

The announcement came after Wednesday afternoon’s cabinet meeting, further fuelling speculations of Prayuth’s alleged ambition to become an elected prime minister in general elections slated for November.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/01/03/prayuth-declares-politician-used-soldier/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-1-3

[rkidlad]

A soldier should be brave and a politician should be........well, at the very least a politician should be somewhat humble. Can’t see how he’s reached this conclusion. 

[mick220675]

He should be careful Thailand has a habit of removing politician's with a coup. 

[candide]

A soldier who who never fighted an ennemy and a politician who never fighted an election. 

[baboon]

OK, fair enough. Abolish article 44 and allow political activity to begin in full immediately. Also free the jailed critics of your junta. Until then you are nothing but a scoundrel. 

Edited January 3, 2018 by baboon

[coulson]

“There must be political party with ideology, a political party that spend budgets in a frugal and worthwhile manner and can be scrutinized. And the scrutiny will be a matter of judicial process. So don’t judge every issue by yourself,” he added.

 

There is such a party.......it has ruled undemocratically for over 3 years already.

 

[PatOngo]

Simon says....touch your nose!

 

[Eric Loh]

I fell off my chair laughing when he talk about frugality. Those lavish military spendings and those watches and rings are not exactly frugal spending. Does the military have a different definition of frugality. 

 

[janclaes47]

And there is me who thought Prayuth denied only a few days ago that he had any political interests.

 

But then I did a Google for something and i got 172.000 results in less than a second.

 

 

http://www.letmegooglethat.com/?q=prayuth+denies

[Tilacme]

Does that mean he will stop losing his rag when the subject of democracy is muted.

[metisdead]

Off topic trolling posts have been removed. 

[worgeordie]

Should make a good politician, all the lies about how he had no ambition

to enter politics, and now wants too,the typical u-turn.

regards worgeordie

[trainman34014]

''Politicians'' don't take power by pointing guns at people and overthrowing a democratically elected Government.

 

The Man has the finesse of a Bull rampaging through a china shop !

[webfact]

‘I’m just a politician,’ Prayut says

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

Prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

Rare admission comes as 2018 crystallises as decisive year in politics.

 

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted for the first time yesterday his status as a politician – an occupation he had earlier belittled and blamed for the country’s problems and conflicts.

 

The admission came in the same year in which the junta has promised to hold the next general election. 

 

Many political observers see Prayut as the strongest candidate and likely to hold power after the election. He has held firm in his commitment that the election will be held in November, contingent on remaining organic laws being enacted in time and social stability maintained.

 

“I am no longer a soldier. Understood? I’m just a politician who used to be a soldier. I still have a soldier’s traits,” the prime minister said at his weekly press briefing yesterday. 

 

When asked if he wants to be a politician for a long time, the former Army chief said: “I have never wanted to be a politician for a single day – since day one until today. 

 

“But it was due to necessity” that he had taken on a politician’s role, he said. “And I am responsible for my own life.”

 

It was a rare, unexpected remark, since Prayut usually distances himself from politicians, from whom he seized power in the 2014 coup. He often blames the political class for “accumulating the country’s problems”.

 

His year-opening remarks also came ahead of political developments in 2018, when all election-related laws are supposed to be formulated with a promise that the next nationwide vote will be held in November.

 

The election, which is seen as a significant event marking the transition of power, could instead be a tool to prolong the power of Prayut and the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), according to political observers.

 

The organic laws and the 2017 Constitution have been written to not only weaken traditional politicians, but also strengthen emerging political parties, which could be the junta’s mechanism to stay in power after the election.

 

Prayut’s invocation of Article 44 order last month, which significantly amended the existing Political Party Act, has also been slammed by politicians as an attempt to decrease major parties’ support by requiring members to resubmit verification documents.

 

The premier, meanwhile, yesterday said the change was essential for people to “reconsider their preferences based on political ideologies rather than parties”.

 

“If [any party] has problems, the Election Commission will help solve them,” he said. “It may be a burden for those parties, but not the country.”

 

Prayut also indicated that the junta’s ban on political gatherings of five people or more, which has been in place since the 2014 coup, might not be lifted in the near future. 

 

“From the security authorities’ evaluation, the country is orderly to some extent. But this is because the NCPO still rules,” he said. “If the ban is lifted, who knows what chaos will happen. An election can’t be held if conflicts are severe again.”

 

Running out of support?

 

For the year ahead, the premier said he would continue to focus on so-called national reforms and the national strategy – the latter being intended to be legally binding for future governments.

 

The National Economic and Social Development Board will collect reform models so “clear answers will be eventually told to the public”, Prayut said.

 

He also interpreted comments by Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, who had said Prayut had “almost ran out of all his supporting force”, last week when he led Cabinet members to call on Prem ahead of the New Year holiday. 

 

Prayut said he thought Prem meant he had utilised all of the capable people at his disposal. 

 

“He always encourages us. He wouldn’t say anything to cause damage,” the prime minister added.

 

In a separate development, the government announced plans to draw up a road map to fight poverty based on HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy this year. 

 

“We aim to reduce the number of poor people. Our help will first go to those registering themselves as low-income earners,” Prayut said. 

 

In the next phase, the government planned to provide assistance under a province-based model. 

 

“We will encourage groupings and inspire people to improve themselves,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335332

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-04

[Thaiwrath]

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I have never wanted to be a politician for a single day – since day one until today. 

[Samui Bodoh]

Hmm... 

 

If he is a politician now, does the rule about no political gatherings of five people apply to him? Or the rule about holding political meetings? Or the rule about 'populist policies? Or the rule about using government funds for campaigning? Etc. Etc. Etc. 

 

 

 

Sorry, sometimes I say the most ridiculous things....

 

[Get Real]

This is just more delusional then ever before.

[colinneil]

Once again the poor man is delusional.

One thing that makes him look like a politician is the smug grin on his face.

Steven Steven, where for art thou, stand up please defend your idol.

Edited January 4, 2018 by colinneil

[PatOngo]

16 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Once again the poor man is delusional.

One thing that makes him look like a politician is the smug grin on his face.

Steven Steven, where for art thou, stand up please defend your idol.

 

Don't disturb him, he's busy polishing their boots!

[JonnyF]

1.There will be no coup.

 

2. I will not be Prime Minister.

 

3. I am not interested in entering Politics.

 

To name just 3.

[Tradewind777]

I have discovered a way to know when he is lying. You guessed it: when his lips are moving. What a deluded man, or maybe he thinks the plebs are deluded enough to actually believe him. Moron.

[baboon]

11 minutes ago, Tradewind777 said:

I have discovered a way to know when he is lying. You guessed it: when his lips are moving. What a deluded man, or maybe he thinks the plebs are deluded enough to actually believe him. Moron.

 It might be that he believes what he says at the time he says it and believes something entirely different five minutes later.

[steven100]

As much as the keyboard warrior nayers don't agree with him .....   he has achieved more for Thailand in the past 3 years than the previous governments combined over 10 years.

More projects have been fast tracked and started, more exports out of Thailand, GDP has increased and Thailand is ticking over at a robust pace.

[PhonThong]

13 hours ago, baboon said:

OK, fair enough. Abolish article 44 and allow political activity to begin in full immediately. Also free the jailed critics of your junta. Until then you are nothing but a scoundrel. 

I really love your comment But, does seem a little hypocritical when I see the avatar you are using.

[Sir Dude]

Those pictures of him with that golden Byzantine style shield behind him twinkling in the light do make me smile.

Edited January 4, 2018 by Sir Dude

[AhFarangJa]

[baboon]

2 minutes ago, PhonThong said:

I really love your comment But, does seem a little hypocritical when I see the avatar you are using.

A perfectly understandable thing to say. Unfortunately we really can't go into it on this thread. 

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He also interpreted comments by Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, who had said Prayut had “almost ran out of all his supporting force”, last week when he led Cabinet members to call on Prem ahead of the New Year holiday. 

Prayut said he thought Prem meant he had utilised all of the capable people at his disposal. 

“He always encourages us. He wouldn’t say anything to cause damage,” the prime minister added.

Spoken like a true politician..., otherwise he would have to adjust Prem's attitude. Now that would be something to behold, using art. 44 on Prem for criticizing Thailand's one-man-government.

[Hayduke]

[peperobi]

A soldier remains a soldier Gen. Prayut is the best example for.