Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today pleaded for cooperation from the Thai people and all state officials to protect the democratic system with the King as head of state for national peace and order and for the preservation of the Thai culture and way of life.

“Thailand is now fully governed as a democratic country with a constitutional monarch, with a parliament that is elected and a government endorsed by parliament. All rights and liberties are guaranteed by the Constitution in line with civilized nations. Pending problems will be solved through democratic processes without application of any special powers,” said the Prime Minister in his farewell speech as head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and head of the outgoing government.

Democratic administration may be slow because of legal, political or budgetary constraints and the need to be receptive to divergent views, said the Prime Minister, adding that these are part of a democratic system that all stakeholders must accept in order to co-exist in peace.

He vowed to carry on with the efforts of the outgoing government to address bread and butter problems, the falling prices of farm produce, public welfare, improvements in quality of life and public safety and acceleration of budget disbursement.

The Prime Minister maintained that, throughout the past five years, the junta-appointed government has managed to prevent the country becoming a failed state, restored peace and order and confidence in Thailand in the eyes of the world.

The government’s achievements over the past five years, be it the restoration of peace and order, increased competitiveness, restoration of foreign investor confidence in Thailand, tackling of corruption problems, national reform or the issuance of a 20-year national strategy, were attributable to the government’s hard work, patience, sacrifice and cooperation from all stakeholders, said the Prime Minister.

He cited the dramatic rescue of the 13 Wild Boar footballers from the flooded Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province last year as a demonstration of the spirit of unity, compassion and humanity which had impressed people around the world.

“I wish the people would look back to see whether there is anything today which is better, whether there are changes. If there are improvements, you can feel proud that they are the result of our determination and cooperation under our late Monarch and the present King,” said the Prime Minister.

He also promised to review projects and laws which are not desirable or which do not correspond with changing situations.