A government spokeswoman today dismissed rumors of the prime minister’s own making that he intends to resign in the wake of his not swearing to defend the constitution when taking the oath of office.
Speaking to reporters at the Impact Exhibition Center, newly installed state mouthpiece Narumon Pinyosinwat said the media had misunderstood comments made by Prayuth Chan-o-cha during a policy meeting Thursday morning with top-level bureaucrats that many interpreted as his intent to resign in the wake of a legal challenge over his failure to take the oath of office as required by law.
“Is he going to give up? No, it’s nothing like that,” Narumon said, chalking up the confusion to Prayuth’s exhaustion in recent days.
“Maybe it’s because he’s been tired and a little sick over the last few days, so he might have been a little short,” she said. Narumon said she didn’t want to go into detail and let Prayuth speak for himself.
Find all episodes of The Coconuts Podcast
During today’s policy meeting, Prayuth cryptically said he was prepared to take sole responsibility “about the constitution and stuff,” adding that the issue must be studied closely.
This came as the government ombudsman announced it would take up a complaint against Prayuth for failing to utter the complete oath of office as required under the constitution. In rendering his oath, Prayuth omitted the last sentence, which requires him to swear to defend the charter.
Prayuth, who came to power by shredding the previous constitution and seizing power in a coup five years ago, has subsequently said the incomplete oath was a mistake.
He said today that his “government will remain intact” and offered an uncharacteristically sheepish apology.
“I would like to apologize to my ministers, I have tried my best,” he said.
Related stories:
