Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has not dismissed the possibility that he could stay on in office for two more years to complete national reform before the next general election is called.
Reporters on Thursday bombarded him with questions about comments from some national reform councillors that his government remain until national reform is achieved before the next election.
"I am neutral. If I am allowed to stay, I will but I will stay with legitimacy, not with power. If everyone wants me to stay, I will stay," said Gen Prayut who led the May 22, 2014 coup.
"But I must be protected from external and internal factors. Regarding the accusation that I want to prolong power, I do not want power because I do not get any benefit. I want the nation to progress but I do not know how to do that. It concerns the constitution," the prime minister said.
Asked if his tenure could be extended pending the success of his national reform roadmap, Gen Prayut said he was not in the position to answer it.
"How can I consider this myself? I am exercising power now and you want me to say that it will be good for me to stay. Can I say this? Today if people want me to do the reform, they must find the way," Gen Prayut said.
Asked if it would be acceptable for him to stay two years longer to finish the reform programme, Gen Prayut asked in return if an elected government would agree to do the reform.
He said reform will cover the complete revamp of agricultural production and the creation of order in society, including order on the streets and the eradication of encroachment on waterways.
The reform is attracting proponents and opponents but his government was ready to do it and he hoped that people would understand him in the future, Gen Prayut said.
Asked whether he would be ready to be cursed by opponents if he stayed two years longer, the prime minister said: "I am not afraid of curses. The more curses, the stronger I am."
During his cabinet's presentation of its achievements to the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Council at the parliament on Thursday, some reform councillors expressed their support for the longer tenure of his government to finish national reform.
Councillor Paiboon Nititawan said there should be a referendum to ask people if the country should spend two years finishing its reform before the next general election.
Councillor Tuanjai Sinthuwanik said people wanted reform before the election.
In the meeting Gen Prayut said people should be asked what they wanted and there would not be a problem if the international community accepted it.
Then he asked if reform councillors and legislative assemblymen in the chamber wanted him, only to get a round of applause.