Members of the current administration have no intention of prolonging their grip on power, but how long they stay will depend on the political situation, Deputy Defence Minister and army chief Udomdej Sitabutr said on Friday.
He was responding to a constitution drafter's proposal that members of the five key national administrative bodies, the so-called "five-river organisations", take a two-year forced political break after finishing their present jobs.
Gen Udomdej said it was too early to comment further on the issue, matters had not been finalised and everything had to comply with the interim constitution.
"The five-rivers have no intention of prolonging their hold on power, but it depends on the situation. This must be carefully considered.
"Basically no one desires power, but some things are necessary for the sake of the nation and that must be taken into consideration," Gen Udomdej said.
"The proposal to suspend the five-rivers from politics for two years is only a proposal and it has not been decided on. The prime minister adheres to the interim constitution," he said. The interim constitution requires only that the writers of the new constitution take a two-year break from politics.
The "five-river organisations" refers to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which staged the May 22 coup last year, the cabinet, the National Legislative Assembly, the National Reform Council and the Constitution Drafting Committee. Gen Udomdej is also secretary-general of the NCPO.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon also said on Friday they had no intention to extend their hold on power, but an enforced two-year political break would leave no one working on national administration and reform for the time being.
He hoped the supporters of the proposed political suspension would understand. Gen Prawit is a deputy chief of the NCPO.
