Thai PM Pledges Improved Economy in 2010

The premier said he believes that´the public will "have more money to spend".

In his New Year message telecast nationwide, Mr. Abhisit said his government will try to improve national economy, prevent political problems from hindering the country’s development and would create more infrastructure projects. His administration came to power in December 2008.

Mr. Abhisit said he is optimistic that the global economy will recoverv in 2010 except in a few countries but that Thailand’s economy will grow 3.5% as projected by his government earlier.

He said his government would make every effort to improve the country’s economy to grow higher than the projection.

Regarding national reconciliation and widely noted continued divisiveness among the people following abloodless coup in September 2006, Mr Abhisit said it could be improved if the people are happy "and politics is no longer a problem.”

However, he said he could not give assurances that his government will survive through next year, despite his good intentions.

“I can’t say that the government could survive through 2010. If the political opposition parties accept my conditions [on amending the constitution9], the House could be dissolved within seven to eight months, which means that the government will have to go in 2010,” Mr. Abhisit said.

The opposition Puea Thai Party earlier withdrew its support for constitutional amendments proposed by the coalition government.

The government has proposed that six clauses in the 2007 Constitution be amended, but the Puea Thai Party demanded that the 1997 Constitution, abolished following the September 2006 bloodless coup, be restored.