Opposition leader’s advisor Phumtham Wechayachai has called on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down, citing the Government’s under-performance, escalating political conflict and the erosion of the democratic system to the extent “that there are no longer any political standards left”.
The former Pheu Thai secretary-general cited some examples of the Government’s alleged misdeeds, including:
- The Prime Minister’s incomplete recital of the oath during the swearing-in ceremony
- The Government’s refusal to clarify the sources of its revenue in the new budget bill, in violation of the law
- The appointment of a former drug convict as a member of the cabinet
- The questionable fund-raising by the Palang Pracharat party, which was cleared by the Election Commission, while the Future Forward party is facing dissolution for taking loan from its leader
- Alleged abuse of power by using the justice system to intimidate or destroy opposition parties
- The use of financial inducements to persuade opposition MPs to defect.
Phumtham said that the protest at Pathumwan skywalk on Saturday evening, which was organized by the Future Forward party, was an expression of the public’s intolerance of the Government.
Meanwhile, Palang Pracharat spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonchana urged members of the public not to fall prey to the Future Forward party’s incitement to take to the streets in protest next month.
He accused Thanathorn of using distorting information to mislead the public, adding that “the country is now democratic, with the Government elected by the people. There is no such thing as perpetuation of the power of the junta and there is no longer the National Council of Peace and Order.”
He said that Thailand is now facing an economic slowdown and the Government is trying to fix the problem, warning that street protests will hurt the economy and drive away foreign investors.
