Srettha Thavisin, one of the Pheu Thai Party's three prime minister candidates, has declared himself ready to become prime minister if he wins the trust of his party to take on the top job.
Mr Srettha was responding to questions asked amid rumours that he would be nominated for a new prime ministerial vote if Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat is unable to be re-nominated as a prime ministerial candidate in parliament tomorrow.
"We at the Pheu Thai Party have discussed this matter for four months, and if I weren't ready for the job, I would not have been named one of three prime ministerial candidates by the party," he said.
However, he said a more important issue was to speed up the formation of a new coalition government and kick-start economic stimulus measures.
Many people are troubled by the slowing economy, Mr Srettha said, adding that Pheu Thai's main responsibility was to take care of this urgent problem.
Mr Srettha, however, declined to comment on the possibility of Pheu Thai switching sides and joining a rival bloc of parties, including Bhumjaithai and the Palang Pracharath Party, to form a new government, as has been speculated.
