The Pheu Thai Party on Thursday lambasted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who earlier expressed his support for his embattled deputy, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, saying this could lead to people losing faith in the government.
Gen Prayut told people during a mobile cabinet trip in Chanthaburi on Tuesday that they should not only love him, but his deputies and the rest of his cabinet. Gen Prawit has been under a barrage of criticism over his luxury watch scandal.
Pheu Thai deputy spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said Thursday Gen Prayut's remarks made it clear that the premier has decided to stand by Gen Prawit as he has always done.
Earlier, Gen Prayut even appealed to people to forget their "problems" with the deputy premier, Mr Anusorn said.
Gen Prayut's remarks in favour of his deputy, he said, came despite the fact that pressure is building on Gen Prawit to shoulder responsibility for the scandal.
The premier had previously used his power under the all-powerful Section 44 to transfer numerous state officials alleged to have been involved with malfeasance, but in this case was not willing to do so, he said.
"People are losing confidence that they would see the prime minister practise what he has preached," said Mr Anusorn. "His expression of such a stance may lead to the decline of people's trust, which could ignite further social reaction."
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) must also prove that Gen Prayut's remarks will have no impact on its investigation into the case, Mr Anusorn said.
A day earlier, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his reading of the prime minister's latest remarks on the luxury watch scandal means the premier has decided to protect Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon from political harm, so must prepare for the consequences.
Unless public doubts about his conduct are cleared, the government's work can only get more difficult.
Mr Abhisit said he was referring specifically to the PM's remark that if the people love him, they should love the whole of his cabinet as he cannot work alone.
The NACC launched an inquiry after Gen Prawit was spotted by the media late last year wearing a luxury watch, believed to be a Richard Mille worth at least 2.5 million baht, and a diamond ring, items that were not included in his asset declarations.
The CSI-LA Facebook page has posted photos picked up from past news photos of 25 luxury wristwatches worn by Gen Prawit, items which were also not declared.
The NACC's request for Gen Prawit to submit a third statement explaining the issue expired Thursday. The request was sent to the deputy premier on Jan 24.
NACC spokesman Worawit Sukboon refused to comment whether the agency had received the explanation letter.
A petition at Change.org calling on Gen Prawit to resign passed its target of 75,000 separate e-signatures on Thursday, and set a new goal of 150,000.
The petition, opened for voting last week by human rights activist Thicha Nanakorn, demands that Gen Prawit "resign as promised on Jan 31", when the deputy prime minister vowed he would quit if the public demanded it.
Gen Prayut stressed he and Gen Prawit have continued to talk with each other every day, even after the watch scandal made headlines.
Meanwhile, political activist Ekachai Hongkangwan showed up at the NACC office in Nonthaburi's Sanambinnam area to urge the anti-graft agency to investigate the case fairly.
Mr Ekachai brought a large vinyl placard showing the 25 luxury watches Gen Prawit was seen wearing.
He tried to hand the placard to NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, but was stopped by police officers.
Also Thursday, two men turned up at Phra Khanong police station to acknowledge charges in connection with graffiti featuring Gen Prawit and a clock, which appeared on a pedestrian bridge on Sukhumvit Soi 58 on Jan 30.
Samonnon Yam-uthai and Suebsakul Chayasombat pleaded guilty to unlawfully painting public structures and were fined 3,000 baht each.