Prayut confirms he will not extend his premiership

BANGKOK, April 13 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who is also the leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) confirmed that he would not be a non-elected prime minister after the next general election. “The NCPO does not plan to set up a political party. No one in the cabinet and the NCPO will enter politics… I will not be the non-elected prime minister although the NLA (National Legislative Assembly) added the referendum question on the possibility of senators selecting a prime minister,” Gen Prayut said after the cabinet meeting at Government House on April 12. NCPO has taken control of state administration on May 22, 2014 following the prolonged political deadlock, long-running protests, and violence. However, the premier said that he had no name in mind who should be the next prime minister. Gen Prayut warned politicians to be careful in criticizing the draft charter, saying they could violate the referendum law and be liable to a jail term of up to 10 years. He said that he hoped the draft charter would pass the referendum. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said that the government allocated 2.99 billion baht for the organization of the Aug 7 referendum on the draft constitution and public relations on the draft charter and the referendum. (TNA)