"Populist policies can be continued but constructively"

He said the government could not stop the populist policies initiated by the Thaksin government because the Thai people had become "addicted" to them.

However, populist policies would create negative consequences in the long term if the people were given financial support without learning how to stand on their own feet and depend on themselves. "We cannot eradicate poverty by giving away money,'' Prawase said.

He suggested that the government implement the policies in the way that encourage people to work as a group to strengthen themselves in order to work together to achieve goals.