Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insists he will strictly follow the road map to restoring democracy and elections as he does not want to stay in power longer than necessary.
He was responding to a media furore over a prediction by Chiang Mai-based political fortune teller Warin Buawiratlert that Gen Prayut will stay in power for up to three years.
Adding to speculation Gen Prayut would hang on longer than planned, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Monday that as long as there were attempts to block the national reform process and cause disorder, the government would stay on to cope with the situation.
"Don't ask me about that. I don't want to stay on. Everything will strictly follow my road map. Whatever the road map says is true," Gen Prayut said yesterday.
He said authorities were working hard to solve problems, including ensuring the makeup of the House of Representatives and the Senate would exclude the possibility of a parliamentary "dictatorship", as well as laying down strategies for future governments to follow.
Former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, a core member of the Pheu Thai Party, said the government had better let it be known if it intends to exceed the time frame set for returning to democracy.
The international community in particular wants to hear clearly from the government if it still plans to follow the declared road map, he said.