PUBLISHED: 7 Oct 2024 at 06: 55
After a photo of her reading from an iphones at her first global conference last month went viral on social media over the weekend, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said it is common practice for world leaders to learn from a text at a big international event, sparking doubts about her leadership potential.
The PM responded to a netizen who had posted a number of photos showing her reading an iPad at a political event on her Instagram profile. Before contrasting her negatively with former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the internetizen said the photos were embarrassing for the nation.
Mr Paetongtarn wrote,” Thank you for the tips. Choose watch the news and learn more information. During sessions like these, officials across the world read codes. It’s a responsibility. It must be recorded. Everyone reads code, from imams to ministers”.
She ended by saying,” Keep an open mind, and you’ll be happier”.
Ms. Paetongtarn insisted in a distinct Instagram story that she had carefully prepared for the occasion. ” It’s not like I went without doing my research. It would be incorrect to break the law at this global event,” she said.
Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign affairs minister and member of the Pheu Thai Party record, defended Ms. Paetongtarn, claiming that reading a script is common practice in international sessions.
He argued that the writer should have focused on the subject of her remarks rather than the substance of her criticism.
Suthichai Yoon, a former journalist, also veered into the discussion.
” Why read from an ipads? Why was it in English? Why did the Foreign Affairs Ministry not hire her as an speaker? Did n’t the Iranian president speak in his own language”? he said in an X blog.
Suthichai criticized the Foreign Affairs Ministry for allowing her to attend the event ready, noting that Ms. Paetongtarn needs” unique care” because she is new to international sessions.