BANGKOK: Thailand’s prime minister proposed a “national reform council” yesterday to seek a way out of the political crisis gripping the kingdom, following weeks of mass street protests against her government.
Yingluck Shinawatra said the body would be set up in parallel with a February 2 general election to recommend constitutional amendments, economic and legal reforms and anti-corruption measures.
“It is now time to develop a mechanism to push forward and mobilise national reform,” she said in an address to the nation.
But the plan was immediately rejected by protest leaders who want reforms before elections, in a bid to curb the political influence of the prime minister’s family. Yingluck “is not sincere about reform”, said a spokesman for the protest movement, Akanat Promphan.
“The prime minister can show her responsibility and sacrifice by stepping down so that the reform process can begin,” he added.
In recent weeks tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Bangkok seeking to oust Yingluck’s elected government and install an unelected “people’s council” in its place.
The premier has called a snap election for February 2 to try to ease tensions, but the main opposition Democrat Party — which has not won an elected majority in about two decades — has vowed to boycott the vote.
AFP
