Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday he would neither resign nor reshuffle his cabinet, and his political future would be made clear between Feb 4 and 8.
After the resignation of four cabinet ministers who formed the Palang Pracharath Party, Gen Prayut said he would not resign as the prime minister or the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order. He responded to other politicians' call for his resignation as the prime minister ahead of the general election.
There was not a law requiring the resignation as the prime minister and, for the NCPO, he would remain as its chief because the council would be in power until a new government was established, Gen Prayut said.
Regarding the four ministers who resigned, the prime minister said remaining ministers could take over their responsibilities.
On his own political future, Gen Prayut said that he would need some time before making a decision and no one had invited him to be the candidate for prime minister of any political party.
It would be made clear between Feb 4 and 8, he said.
Gen Prayut also said the situation would be calm before the March 24 election and he was duty-bound to ensure order afterwards.
