Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan today defended the appointment of retired General Preecha Chan-o-cha, the younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut, as a senator.

He said Gen Preecha is qualified as he was a member of the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly.

When reporters questioned him today about General Preecha’s frequent absence from NLA meetings, he claimed to be unaware of the problem and asked the reporters to raise the question directly with the general.

General Preecha, former defence permanent secretary, is among about 60 NLA members who resigned en masse in preparation for assuming their new role as senators once there is a Royal Command endorsing the list of 250 senators. The list has already been submitted to His Majesty the King by Prime Minister Prayut.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit is head of the selection committee tasked with appointing 194 senators from different professional groups.  The deputy prime minister brushed aside allegations that the Senate was just a “reincarnation” of the junta, otherwise known as the National Council for Peace and Order, claiming that only about 10 people closely associated with the junta will be appointed to the Senate.

“They want to work and want to help the government,” he said as he explained their appointment.

General Prawit declined to comment on the formation of the new government, saying that it is too early to talk about it as the new prime minister has not yet been elected by parliament.

When asked whether he will be reappointed deputy prime minister and defence minister, he said it depends on the new Prime Minister, adding that he has not asked the current Prime Minister about the matter.