Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he will exercise Section 44 of the interim constitution only when it is "necessary", and that he has no plans to abolish local administrative organisations at this time.
Gen Prayut waves as he joins other officials in a bicycle ride around Rattanakosin on Sunday morning. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
"I'm not thinking about dissolving local administrative bodies because the country is peaceful now.
"We are focusing on improving the people's well-being. We are trying to find the time to consider allocating land to low income earners. I believe that the economy will pick up next year, but I'm concerned about ways to raise people's incomes," Gen Prayut said on Sunday.
The army chief-turned-premier, in his capacity as the National Centre for Peace and Order chief, said he would only exercise Section 44 if it was necessary and that the law would be used constructively.
The section stipulates the NCPO chief shall have the power to make any order he likes and that it will be deemed legal, constitutional and conclusive.
Concerning the problem of cars parking on bicycle lanes around Rattanakosin, the prime minister said more car parking spaces will have to be created.
"The Bangkok governor [MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra] is looking into this issue. I ask the people to be careful and share the lanes for now," Gen Prayut said.