HUA HIN – During a break on Songkran holidays in Hua Hin, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin gave a special interview to the media in a relaxed atmosphere by the sea. However, the content was full of strong political issues.
Starting with rumors about cabinet reshuffling, he confirmed that if there were to be changes, discussions would be necessary as it’s a matter of mutual respect and would involve multiple parties, such as the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister, the leader of the coalition party, and the leader of the Pheu Thai Party. After the Songkran holiday, discussions will take place immediately.
He also spoke about the work done in the last 7 months and noted that many problems have not been solved satisfactorily. For example, the prices of agricultural products, which are better but could still be improved; the Customs Department, one of the three main tax departments, only collects about 1 trillion annually, which is about 3 percent of the country’s income and is considered low.
“I’ve often said that the Customs Department is the most corrupt and collects only 3% of tax revenue, which is suspicious. It’s therefore necessary to develop the Customs Department so that it’s pure and really helpful to the people in different dimensions and the problem of import taxes that lead to leakages and make domestic tax collection less effective.”
The Prime Minister also spoke about tourism, stating that tourist numbers have increased by 140 percent since 12 April 2024 compared to normal times, which is excellent. He is confident that the number of tourists in Thailand will reach 39.4 million this year, due to the free visa markets, the easing of checks on tourists and the resolution of problems with unlicensed tour guides and cab drivers.
The Prime Minister admitted that he had to make a big adjustment when he went from being a businessman to a politician. As CEO of a company, he had to consider four main pillars: Customers, shareholders, employees and society. As a company executive, he received the full support of the board and shareholders.
However, as a politician and Prime Minister with a coalition government of 141 votes out of 500 and with various collaborators, including the public, the media and the institutions, there is a need for discussion and explanation.
“I use the term ‘partnership’ to assist the people. Each party and each member has different promises to the people. Therefore, budget management slows down some projects.”
Srettha confirmed that he has no conflicting interests. His personal life is settled, his family is happy, and he has a suitable job. He has many friends in business and now has many friends in politics.
“When I announced my commitment and told my friends about the problems that would hinder the improvement of people’s lives, I said: if my friends act against the public interest, I’m prepared to lose them. So I’m confident that in another three and a half years there will be fewer friends but a better life for the people, I’m ready,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
When asked about the opposition’s work, the Prime Minister said that the opposition had done its job well. He said that if the government was not doing anything right, it was ready to reconsider. He said that he was trying to differentiate and look beyond exaggerated political games and focus on useful advice for the people in the time available.
