Yingluck says she will pass the test

She finally delivered his closing policy statement. And Premier Yingluck Shinawatra declared that she will, if given a chance, pass the test.

"It's like sitting in an exam. Nobody expects to get 100% scores. But I am sure I will pass every subject," she said just now after two-and-a-half days of debate which at times proved quite heated amidst the clashes between the govermnet and opposition MPs.

Yingluck didn't conclude with any new specifics in her policy. She insists that she would do her best to bring happiness to the people and that she would work towards national reconciliation. Yingluck also said when the Japanese government granted Thaksin a visa recently, "I wasn't even performing my duties as PM yet. Besides, it's the Japanese government that decided to give him the visa."

The premier remained vague on some of the most controversial issues. She said if the private sector faced any problems in complying with the government policy, the government would be ready to provide advice and assistance.

On the giving away of tablets to primary students, she said: "We want to open my learning opportunities for our children in a globalized world. We will be careful to monitor the use in such a way that would not let children use the tablets to play games only."

The policy debate didn't require a vote in the Parliament. There were some substantial exchange between former Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and Chalerm Yoobamrung, the deputy premier, who took ont the role of speaking on behalf of the premier on some of the controversial issues.

Deputy Premier and Commerce Minister Kittirat na Ranong provided the gist of the explanation on the economic policies such as the Bt300 minimum wage, Bt15,000 monthly salary and rice price pledging scheme. But they were not exactly as promised during the election campaigns.

But then Chalerm insisted: "One can't assume that what was said as policies during the election campaigns couldn't be interpreted as promises of the new government."

How, in practice, will the Yingluck government wriggle out of each of the big promises remains to be seen.