Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday rejected politicians' calls for him to take part in policy debates, saying he is too busy with his work.
Speaking after the weekly cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said he saw no need to take part in debates, and insisted he was not afraid to face a grilling from other politicians.
"I won't take part, no matter how anyone challenges me. I am not angry and not afraid. But I am busy with my work. It will be a headache and a waste of time to come up with eloquent language for use in debates," Gen Prayut said.
"If you want to know my vision, I already have it -- stability, prosperity and sustainability under King Rama IX's sufficiency economy principle," the prime minister said.
In response to Gen Prayut's refusal to take part in debates, Chaturon Chaisang of the Thai Raksa Chart Party said this was not surprising.
He claimed Gen Prayut was not brave enough to take part in debates as he only wanted to take advantage of other parties by subjecting people to his talks.
