PM warned not to contest poll

Prayut could fall into trap, scholar says

Pro-military groups have warned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not to fall into a trap by setting up his own political party and standing in a general election.

The warning follows a call by the redshirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and the Pheu Thai Party that Gen Prayut should run for election if he wants to maintain power under democratic rules.

Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation, said the red shirt call is not useful nor practical given the current political situation.

Mr Suriyasai said it reflects the mindset of politicians obsessed with elections. “I hope he isn’t lured by those words which are a political trap that has ruined several generals [in the past],” Mr Suriyasai said.

“What Gen Prayut should do is to review his work in the past two years and the year ahead and determine if the regime can bring about political reforms and if there are any guarantees that we won’t go back to political divisiveness again.”

Gen Prayut said on Friday he was willing to serve the country after the next elections even if he was not paid and the workload was heavier but noted he would come to power through democratic means and in a dignified way. This prompted critics to challenge him to contest elections.

Mr Suriyasai said Gen Prayut is being surrounded by groups of people with political interests and he is at risk of being dragged into politics and failing to deliver.

He said the prime minister should make use of his current popularity to push through reforms in major areas before a general election is held either at the end of next year or early 2018.

“His popularity rating is higher than that of several politicians but comes and goes. No one can ride on a popularity wave forever. It’s their achievements that will sustain them,” he said.

Seree Suwanpanont, a member of National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), said yesterday it depends on who floats the idea that Gen Prayut should run for elections.

He said if the call is made by the public it means the people want him to stay on, but if the idea comes from politicians, the prime minister should be careful.

Former Democrat Party MP Wirat Kanlayasiri said if Gen Prayut wants to become the prime minister after the election, he should abide by the charter’s requirements.

UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan yesterday warned Gen Prayut that “he would not end well” if he listened to those who planned to have him selected as the prime minister through the additional referendum question, allowing an appointed Senate to take part in selecting a premier.

Mr Jatuporn, who described the outsider PM provision in the extra question as the “Prayut Model” said the current political context was different from the one that led to the appointment of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda as an outside prime minister from 1980 to 1988.

Gen Prem, the Privy Council president, won support from a majority in the House to serve as an outsider prime minister and stayed on for eight long years before he stepped down.

“Let me say that he will not end well if he follows his supporters and decides to stay on,” Mr Jatuporn said, adding Gen Prayut “should be careful about those supporters”.