Prayut hints at House dissolution after ‘final’ Cabinet meeting next week
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday hinted that he would dissolve the House of Representatives after the Cabinet meeting next week.
He was speaking to reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting when a reporter asked him whether the meeting next week would be the last one under the full authority of his government.
“It’s likely so. There are several issues – both old and new ones – pending our decision. People are still in hardship and the government is trying to address their issues,” Prayut replied.
The PM had said earlier that he would dissolve the House of Representatives but would time the decision with the Election Commission’s plan to hold the election on May 7.
He declined to give more details of the schedule for House dissolution, saying: “It’s coming closer and there is more progress. But I can’t remember when.”
Asked by another reporter whether Prayut has talked to leaders of coalition partners about the House dissolution date, Prayut replied:
“Yes, I have talked to them. They said it’s fine and let me decide it.”
He said the Cabinet this week considered over 40 urgent issues.
“Several issues have yet to be rushed during the final period of the government,” Prayut said.
“I hereby affirm that all the budgets were approved for the sake of the people.”
Prayut said the condition of his hand would not affect his election campaign in the provinces.
He said he would simply have to be more careful because the stitches on his hand had not healed fully and he would still need treatment every day. He said he expected it would take two more weeks for him to fully recover.
Regarding the exchange of criticism between his United Thai Nation Party candidate in a southern province and a Democrat Party candidate, Prayut said he had checked with his party and found the issue was not serious. It was reported that the two candidates attacked each other’s educational backgrounds during campaigning on the weekend.
