PM will brief the press twice a week

PM will brief the press twice a week

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra appears to have found one way to deal with the media's difficult political questions - by scheduling media interviews twice a week.

"I don't think I will have to give an interview every day. Twice a week is fine unless there is a hot issue, because ministers will give interviews to the media daily," she told reporters yesterday during a visit to press centres at Government House.
Yingluck has been criticised for failing to give reporters clear answers, instead seeming to avoid questions by saying all details will be given or explained by the ministers involved.
Most of her replies have been along the lines of "everything goes in line with prescribed procedures", "let involved people or agencies answer the questions or give the details", or "it involved details that I did not know about".
However, Yingluck yesterday seemed to answer reporters' questions more than on previous days since she took office. She was asked several questions related to several matters.
Normally, an uncomfortable Yingluck finished the news conference quickly, as reporters were not as interested in policy matters as they were in her brother, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Again yesterday she was asked whether she was uncomfortable being asked about Thaksin. She said she felt pressure but time would tell how she worked for the people.
She said she had not talked to her fugitive brother lately and refused to reply but walked away when asked whether she would ask Thaksin to avoid making moves that would affect her position as prime minister.
She insisted it was not a mistake to choose Surapong Towichukchaikul as Foreign Minister. She thought it was fine that Surapong used an interpreter when giving interviews to foreign media. He would want to make his message clear.
Reacting to the opposition Democrat Party's movement to impeach Surapong for helping her brother, Yingluck said her government would clarify the issue.
When asked to elaborate, she said: "We will certainly clarify that. Surapong will clarify it in detail. He followed legal processes. Meeting with diplomats is common for the Foreign Ministry.
"We also have policies to promote international relations. This is a big matter. Could you please give us some time? We want to do our best, and we can explain everything," she said.
To cut off the conversation, Yingluck told the questioning reporters, "Oh my! I don't want to take away other ministers' chances to answer to the media.
"You might also feel bored of my face," she said before leaving quickly.