Sonthi says no plans at the moment to enter politics
Junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin did not rule out the possibility of entering politics after his retirement, while insisting he would not try to retain power for the junta.
"At the moment, I deny [entering politics]. But in the future if I want to enter politics I would run in an election, not perpetuate the junta's power. It's not right," Sonthi said during an interview in "Siam Chao Nee" (Siam This Morning).Responding to programme host Thepchai Yong's question if he was interested in entering politics after his retirement in September, Sonthi said at present it was impossible for him. To be a politician one had to have factors such as money and supporters, he said. "For me, being only Army and junta chief are not enough to run in politics. If I wanted to do it now, I could only be a party member," he said. Last week, Sonthi spent his weekend visiting people in Bangkok. Some felt he might be tempted to enter politics but Sonthi said it was the media who suggested he do that. Sonthi hoped Thailand could have politicians "with ideology" to run the country after the next ballot so the country could move ahead. He denied the junta had any role to determine the next prime minister, saying that would depend on what the voters wanted. "I welcome whoever has ideology, patriotism, and loyalty to the King as the next premier," he said. Sonthi also denied he would extend his term as Army chief but said he would remain junta chief until the government's term ends.
|
