Prime Minister Anutin confirmed that attending a Muay Thai match with Settha was not political, emphasizing they have known each other since studying abroad and supporting the promotion of Muay Thai to major provinces.
At 12:50 on 11 Aug 2026 at Government House Building 1, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Chanvirakul spoke about attending the Rajadamnern Stadium boxing match with former Prime Minister Settha Tawisin on 8 Aug. He said he went to watch the match last Saturday and confirmed no political discussions took place. He went to observe the new business model shifting from gambling to soft power aimed at tourists, showcasing Thai art. He noted the atmosphere felt good, not tense or dangerous like before, with every session full of genuine tourists. He saw clear changes attracting more tourists to Thailand.
The Prime Minister added that the organizers proposed holding similar events in major provinces such as Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai. He agreed it would be good if tourism and sports authorities support these initiatives and said he is open to the idea if it can be done.
Regarding whether this event was related to the Monaco declaration, the Prime Minister responded humorously that he only knows the "Monaco declaration to fight drowsiness" in the afternoon. He firmly denied any such political matter and questioned the media on how Settha would be connected to politics now. He explained that on the day they watched the match, he had just attended Settha’s father-in-law’s funeral and they then went to watch boxing together with no other intentions—there was no politics involved at all.
When asked if there would be more invitations in the future, the Prime Minister said everyone knows he and Settha did not just meet when working as a minister and subordinate; they have known each other since studying abroad and have maintained regular contact. He added that there has never been any conflict between them.