PPRP 'will remain in power'

PPRP 'will remain in power'

MPs 'united' ahead of general election

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is hopeful the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which he leads, will remain in power after the next general election.

He anticipates it will receive enough support in the poll to give it a say in forming the next government, and notes its MPs are united and keen on helping the people.

With all these factors, Gen Prawit said he is confident that after the next general election, the party will be a part of the next government coalition.

"After the last [election], we had more than 100 MPs two months after forming the party," he said.

"I have been with the party for as long as four years, how can we fail?"

"The party was established to take care of Thais. We would like to work for the public's interest so people will have even better lives," Gen Prawit said.

"This has been the goal of the PPRP in the past 3–4 years."

Gen Prawit said his party's MPs are cooperative and united.

Regarding whether he will be PPRP's prime minister candidate, he said the party has not decided on the issue.

The deputy prime minister -- who has been talking more to reporters as the country gears up for the election -- said he personally prefers military life to a political one.

However, he may hang on to a political role in the long haul as he intends to make the PPRP a long-standing party by turning it into a political institution.

"Everyone in the PPRP is onboard for this idea and rallies behind it," he said. "As long as there are people who support me, I'll continue to be in politics."

Asked if the PPRP has a campaign strategy in store yet to woo voters, he said: "There's none."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Office Minister Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told cabinet ministers to spend the rest of their time in office to focus on their work and avoid politicking.

The MPs' tenure is expiring on March 23, with the election date set for May 7.

Mr Thanakorn said Gen Prayut has been out meeting the public in many areas across the country, which shows he is paying attention to people's problems rather than being preoccupied with political concerns.

In the close to four years in power, the government has distributed welfare cards to low-income residents, compensated those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and met its target of luring back 10 million foreign tourists, he said.

Mr Thanakorn said he trusts that the people will understand what the prime minister has been doing for the country despite the disinformation circulated on some social media outlets, attacking him and the government.

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