(17 December) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has said she will not resign from her caretaker position demanded by anti-government protesters.
The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, has been calling for Ms. Yingluck′s resignation and a royal appointment of an unelected Prime Minister along with the formation of unelected ?People′s Council? to rule the country as a transitional government.
But in a press conference earlier today after a Cabinet meeting in Bangkok, Ms. Yingluck stressed that she will not resign, because the Constitution requires her to stay until the next election.
She also told reporters that the election will go ahead on 2 February 2014 as scheduled; the protesters have demanded that the election be postponed and their "reform" of Thailand be implemented first.
However, she refused to say whether she will run as the top ticket of Pheu Thai Party again, stating that there is still plenty of time to decide.
Also attending the Cabinet meeting was Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, who refused the talk to reporters about the police strategies to contain the prolonged protests.
Asked whether the election will happen on 2 February 2014, Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit said he does not know. "We have to evaluate that possibility from many [agencies]", but insisted that police can provide security for the election.
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