BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said personal and political differences should be put aside when all sides share the goal of benefiting Thailand and its people, following his meeting with former PM Thaksin Shinawatra at the funeral of former deputy interior minister Krieng Kalptinan.
Speaking at Bangkok Railway Station, or Hua Lamphong, on Saturday (August 15), Anutin, who is also Interior Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was asked about the atmosphere at the funeral, where he also met Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Somchai Wongsawat.
Anutin says friends or rivals must put Thailand and its people first
“We met at the funeral of someone we respected. It was not a cheerful or festive occasion. It was normal for us to talk, meet one another and show mutual respect,” he explained.
Asked whether he might arrange to meet Thaksin on another occasion, Anutin replied that he had continued to encounter Thaksin, Somchai and Paetongtarn since first getting to know them.
“Do not think that we cannot talk to one another. Since we are in the same government, why would we be unable to meet if we wanted to?” he added.
Anutin says friends or rivals must put Thailand and its people first
Asked whether the political maxim that there are no permanent friends or enemies remained relevant, Anutin stressed that national and public interests must take priority.
“Whether someone is a true friend or a permanent enemy, if we share the same goal — benefiting the people and the country, strengthening the nation and bringing it prosperity — we must put personal matters behind us and first achieve what needs to be done for the country and its people,” he noted.
When asked whether the strength of the coalition meant there was no need to invite additional parties into the government, Anutin responded: “Was that ever an issue?”
He observed that every political party wanted to be in government rather than opposition because being in power allowed it to deliver policies to the public more fully.
However, once an election had been held and a government formed, all sides had to perform their respective duties to the best of their ability, he added. The opposition must fully scrutinise the government, while the government must carry out its work to the full.
Asked whether he was confident that his government would complete its four-year term, Anutin laughed before replying: “We have to make it. If we can remain in office, we must do so to benefit the country and the people.”
On whether he had any political concerns, Anutin noted that the government needed to consider whether its objectives would resonate with the public and hit the mark.
He cited the government’s Thais Help Thais Plus 60/40 co-payment scheme, which he indicated had been well received by the public. Economic indicators had also improved, and he wanted to see other figures strengthen further.
Asked whether he had heard public calls for further phases of the scheme, Anutin replied that he was aware of them but that the government needed to examine the implementation method, available budget and how to deliver the greatest possible benefit.
“This is not a welfare-state or populist measure. It is about enabling people to participate in the country’s development and helping to strengthen the economy,” he concluded. -- The Nation Thailand/Asia News Network
