Prayut entering Government House on his last day of work there. - The Nation
BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): On his last day in office on Thursday (Aug 31), outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said he wished for peace to prevail in Thailand.
Shortly after arriving in Government House a few minutes after 9am, General Prayut went to pay respect and make an offering to its spirit house.
When asked by reporters about his wish made before the spirit house, the outgoing PM said: “I wished for the country to be peaceful and everyone to be happy.”
Prayut said Thursday was his last day working at Government House, although he would continue in his caretaker role until the new prime minister officially assumes office.
Incoming Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is forming his Cabinet, which is expected to assume office next month after it is sworn in before the King and its policy statement is presented to Parliament.
On Thursday morning, a group of senators who are retired military and police generals called on Prayut at Government House to bid him farewell.
Some of them were appointed by the junta formed after the 2014 military coup led by Prayut when he was commander-in-chief of the Army. They included General Chatchai Sarikulya, General Tanasak Patimapragorn, and Thawatchai Samutsakhon.
Later, politicians serving at the Prime Minister’s Office – outgoing PM’s Office Minister Anucha Nakasai and the PM’s adviser Seksakol Atthawong – also met General Prayut at his office to say good-bye.
They are both from the United Thai Nation Party, which nominated Prayut as one of its two prime ministerial candidates in the May 14 general election. Its other PM candidate was the party’s leader, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, who is also the PM’s secretary general.
Anucha told reporters he personally thanked the prime minister for his kindness to everyone. He said Prayut asked him to help take care of the country and work for the national interest.
Seksakol said that he met the outgoing PM to offer his best wishes, adding that Prayut was a good prime minister who worked for the country honestly.
“My affection and faith towards General Prayut will remain until my last day,” the politician said.
He said General Prayut asked him to put his health first because he had just had an operation.
