Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha hinted on Friday that he may prefer to stage a comeback on a political party's ticket rather than becoming an unelected or “outsider" premier when the general election is held early next year.
Asked what channel he would choose if he decided to seek a return to power, Gen Prayut said: "They have stopped talking about an outsider prime minister for a long time now. Why keep talking about it?"
"Don't you know what an outsider prime minister is intended for? If a prime minister cannot be found [in the first round of voting by parliament] after an election, then a second round must be held. But if one can be chosen in the first round, then it's done," he said.
He was speaking to the media as he visited Lumpini Park, Hua Lamphong railway terminus and inner Bangkok piers. He insisted he was not campaigning for votes but simply meeting the people of Bangkok after heading out to other provinces and doing the same there.
Under the 2017 constitution, Gen Prayut potentially has two channels at his disposal to retain his grip on power as Thailand looks to return to democracy.
The first option would see his name appear on a list of three prime ministerial candidates proposed by a political party.
The second could see him nominated as a non-elected “outsider" prime minister. This arrangement could be triggered if parliament fails to choose a prime minister under the first option, provided at least two thirds of all senators and MPs throw their support behind him.
Some political analysts have speculated that Gen Prayut may prefer to retain his power as an “outsider" prime minister.
But judging by his remarks on Friday, it seems he is more interested in the other option.
Despite this, Gen Prayut said he has not been approached by any party asking him to join their ranks. Several parties have already revealed their policies, but he said he needs time to consider if they are sufficiently practical.
Even though he is interested in making a foray into politics, he said he has not picked a party. “I don't have any particular criteria, so there's no need to talk about it," he added.
Gen Prayut said that the poll, tentatively scheduled for Feb 24, would not be delayed again.
He has been widely tipped to align with the newly established, pro-regime Palang Pracharath Party, which now has
four cabinet ministers serving on its executive board.
Observers note Gen Prayut will likely join it “when the time is right".
Under the constitution, if MPs fail to select a new premier from parties' lists of nominated candidates, a provisional clause under Section 272 would trigger an alternative route.
In such a situation, senators could join MPs in proposing a motion to suspend the rule requiring that prime ministerial
candidates must come from party lists, paving the way for an outsider prime minister to be selected.
Such a motion requires the support of two-thirds of all MPs and senators to suspend the rule. The charter mandates there must be 500 elected MPs and 250 appointed senators, meaning 500 names would be needed.
A nominated outsider would need the vote of more than half of both houses, or at least 376 votes to become prime minister.
Gen Prayut has been criticised for taking advantage of other politicians by arranging his various field visits, including the trip in Bangkok yesterday, while political parties are still banned from political campaigns.
But Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda, who accompanied Gen Prayut during his tour of the capital, said it was planned so the prime minister could better understand people's complaints in order to help improve their livelihoods. The premier was not campaign for votes, he insisted.
An opinion survey by Siam Technology College showed that 74% of respondents believe Gen Prayut will stage a comeback. Just over 81% said they were not surprised when he declared he was interested in politics.
Meanwhile, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has reportedly travelled to Hong Kong to meet a group of ex-Pheu Thai MPs to discuss the new leadership of the party, of which he is widely seen as the de facto leader.
