Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in almost his every public utterance to the media these days, is at great pains to deny he wants to extend his power.
He insists his political road map ends at a place where elections restore a democratic system. He told the US military chief last week that he is trying to lead the country to a sustainable democracy. He denied to a public meeting that he or his National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have plans to cling to power. Any rational and patriotic person wants to believe this.
Reality and action bring pause to such claims. There is good reason why the media and his audiences continue to ask Gen Prayut whether he means what he says. The actions of the junta leader frequently clash with his stated vision of the future. Even his road map remains mostly a mystery. The prime minister is constantly revealing portions of his plans. What he calls a road map seems more like a carpet, slowly unrolling but with the end bits still enclosed and unseen.
Gen Prayut has never been a public person. In the leadup to his dramatic seizure of power on May 22, 2014, he frequently and curtly denied he was even considering a coup d’etat. Events since then have proved the military takeover was well planned. But even then, until today, few serious people doubted Gen Prayut’s sincerity or genuine belief that a coup was necessary to restore peace and try to put the country on a solid footing once again. His recent actions have created uncertainty.
The most unfortunate question arises over the number and quality of election delays by the selfdescribed “military man turned politician”. He failed to deliver on a 2015 election because the country wasn’t ready. The 2016 and 2017 elections he promised had to be put off because of the sad passing and funeral of the late King Bhumibol.
Now, the election he promised last October in writing, for this year, has been delayed. While Gen Prayut has blamed paperwork and legal problems at the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), last week he was more precise. But sadly, he has reverted to the 2014-2015 excuse. Speaking during a mobile cabinet tour through the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, the prime minister has said again that the country just isn’t ready. In his words: “Today the country is not yet in order, so I may ask for some time.”
The obvious question is “ask whom?” Politicians ask by holding elections. Gen Prayut’s words may appear diplomatic, but are autocratic. The very National Legislative Assembly (NLA) he appointed has instituted tricky, procedural delays. Whether one believes their shocked denials that they intended to put off national elections, the NLA leadership and members have done so. Armed with his Section 44 powers (in addition to passing a military-favoured constitution), Gen Prayut refuses to step in and clear away that red tape.
Last week, the prime minister clearly enjoyed working the crowds and photo-ops in the Chanthaburi-Trat corridor. He looked like an aspiring politician revelling in the atmosphere. It is certainly impossible to believe that Gen Prayut has no hopes or dreams of staying in the high office to which he appointed himself almost four years ago.
Indeed, the constitution and all its enabling laws that he refuses to speed up in the NLA are designed to enable an unelected person to become prime minister under any circumstances — even after elections. No statement by Gen Prayut says he wants to stay in power louder than his actions. By delaying elections year after year, and by claiming legitimacy through photo-friendly crowd adulation, the prime minister risks alienating large parts of the country.
